A woman's body which was discovered in a suitcase dumped in a hedge had been bound and gagged, detectives investigating the murder said today.

The suitcase was discovered on Sunday night by a man out walking near the village of Askham Richard, North Yorkshire.

The murdered woman was of Asian or Oriental origin, aged between 20 and 40 and only 4ft 11 1/2 inches tall.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Ankers told a news conference that the woman's wrists were bound together, and she had been gagged on her wrists with tape over her mouth.

Her partially clothed body was then crammed into a suitcase and dumped in a roadside hedge near the busy A64 dual carriageway.

"One has to look at all the circumstances of this death," Mr Ankers said.

"We have a female who has been dumped in a country lane, bound and gagged in a suitcase. Clearly we are treating this as a very serious incident.

"There were no visible injuries on her body and the cause of death had not yet been established."

Further tests were expected to be carried out in the next few days.

The rigid grey and silver suitcase which had wheels and an extended trolley handle, and measured 29cm by 50cm by 72cm was found at about 4pm on Sunday by a local man.

When he could not lift the case he became suspicious, called the police and an officer attended the scene.

Mr Ankers said: "The officer saw what he thought was a human body. Without examining it further and mindful of destroying evidence, he left the suitcase where it was and reported it."

The area was immediately sealed off and the suitcase was eventually taken to a mortuary in York where it was opened on Monday afternoon by experts, who found the body.

Mr Ankers said he was unable to comment on reports that the suitcase had been reported to police a week ago.

But every indication suggested the suitcase had been in the hedge since the beginning of the month.

"My main priority is to establish the identity of the woman and if anyone has any suggestions as to who she might be I would urge them to contact us as early as possible.

"The suitcase may have been there some time and I'm looking for the public's help especially local people, to help us and come forward.

"If the suitcase and body was at the scene for some time, I'm looking for the public especially local people to help and come forward. I'm looking for dog walkers in the area and horse riders."

He said the victim was slender, with brown eyes and shoulder-length dark hair. She had pierced ears but was not wearing studs or earrings when her body was found. She was also wearing plastic contact lenses.