THE badly burnt body of a man was discovered yesterday morning at an isolated County Durham picnic site.
The man, in his mid-30s, is believed to be from the Consett area of Derwentside. His body was found a few yards from a burned-out Peugeot 405 car at the Hawkburn Head picnic area, near Waskerley Reservoir, between Consett and Stanhope.
Police were alerted shortly after 7am when countryside warden Dave Liddle made a routine call at the site's car park. Forensic experts, fire brigade investigators, detectives and a Home Office pathologist were all called to the isolated moor.
Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson, who is leading the investigation, said a post-mortem examination had given a clear indication of cause of death, but that laboratory tests would be needed before this could be confirmed.
A spokesman for Durham Police last night said it could be some time before the dead man was formally identified but said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. The North Durham coroner has been informed.
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