Body found in woodland

A man hunting for his lost cat in North Yorkshire found a decomposed body in woodland.

Police in Harrogate are checking missing persons' reports after the discovery in Bilton Woods on Wednesday.

A team of 16 officers was drafted in to investigate the death but police later said it was not being treated as suspicious.

A Home Office pathologist was called in and North Yorkshire police said later that a post mortem had shown the cause of death was hanging.

A police spokesman said clothing on the body included light coloured Puma socks, Nike trainers, dark Adidas trouser bottoms and a long sleeved fleece top with "Green Coast" on the chest.

The body was discovered about 60 yards from the road.

An area of the wood was cordoned off during the police investigations.