A MURDER investigation was under way last night after the gruesome discovery of a woman's body inside a bloodstained suitcase.

The large case was found by a passer-by dumped in a hedge beside a country lane not far from the busy A64 in North Yorkshire.

Police cordoned off the area and removed it for examination.

When it was opened at the mortuary at York District Hospital yesterday, experts made the grim discovery.

Last night, forensic scientists were carrying out a full post mortem examination as detectives attempted to identify the victim.

Police forces throughout the region are trawling through their missing persons lists looking for clues to the woman's identity.

The country road, linking Askham Richard to Bilbrough, near York, remained sealed off last night as detectives carried out a painstaking search of the scene.

Further details about the death are expected to be released by detectives today.

The dramatic events began as the area - close to the main A64 - was cordoned off at about 9pm on Sunday, but a daylight examination of the scene could only begin yesterday morning.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman last night confirmed the incident was being treated as a suspicious death. "Because of the difficulties in preserving the evidence, the suitcase was not actually opened until around midday today," he said.

Police were unable to confirm rumours that the suitcase containing the body may have lain by the road for several days, or that a villager had reported it to police last week.

Yesterday morning, a tent was erected to protect the scene as experts examined the road and grass verges.

Earlier, villagers had said they were kept in the dark by police as investigations were carried out, and many at first feared the discovery of the suspicious package could have been related to terrorism.

Householders in Askham Richard spoke of their shock at the grim discovery made just outside the village.

One woman said: "I can't believe that this is happening so close to our homes."

Ian Booth, manager of the nearby Buckles Inn, much of whose trade was cut off for the day by road closures, said: "There's a sense of shock that it is on our doorstep.