Lorry body find 'not suspicious'

The man was found in the back of an Italian-registered lorry

Detectives have said the death of a man found in the back of a lorry in Hampshire was not suspicious.

A post-mortem examination failed to establish a cause of death but officers believe he may have died from hypothermia or natural causes.

The man was discovered in an Italian-registered articulated lorry when police stopped the vehicle on the M3 at Winchester on Tuesday.

The lorry driver, a 45-year-old Italian man, is continuing to be questioned.

The dead man was between 25 and 30 years old, of slim to medium build and was wearing blue jeans, a black belt and several sweaters.

'Stowed in vehicle'

Further forensic tests will be carried out on his body to determine the cause of death.

Police now know the lorry entered the country by ferry through the docks at Dover on Tuesday, not via the Channel Tunnel as previously thought.

Det Supt Dave Williams, from Hampshire Constabulary, added: "At this stage there is no pathological evidence to suggest foul play.

"Although the man was wearing several layers of clothing and seemed prepared for the cold conditions, we can't rule out the possibility he died through hypothermia or other natural causes.

"From other clothes we found inside the trailer, we're concerned that there were other people, possibly a woman and child, stowed away in the vehicle."

Officers appealed to motorists who may have seen people fleeing the lorry to come forward.