UNCERTAINTY continues to surround the identify a man whose badly burnt body was found in a car that was on fire.

The body was found by firefighters after they put out the blaze in a lay-by on the A61 Thirsk to Ripon road, in North Yorkshire, last Friday.

A post-mortem examination has established that the man was in his 20s, of medium build and about 6ft. He had a gold lower back tooth.

A police spokesman said: "The cause of death was not established and the results of further tests are awaited.

"However, at this time the death is not being treated as suspicious."

The vehicle was a five-door 1989 1.6-litre Volkswagen Golf, fitted with a sunroof, believed to have been black, with the registration G503 EFV.

The vehicle is registered to an address in Hackney, London, but inquiries have failed to trace the owner.

However, officers say there may still be a London connection because the vehicle was in Islington on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 13.

Police trying to identify the man are anxious to speak to anyone who saw the vehicle in the vicinity of the A1/A61 interchange at Baldersby at about 9.30pm last Friday.

They particularly want to speak to the driver of a car towing a caravan on the A61 nearby at that time.

They also want to hear from anyone with information about the vehicle, including anyone with details of its previous ownership.

Officers can be contacted on (01423) 539334.