Lower body discovery 'suspicious'

Demolition is under way at the site

Police have begun searching a missing persons database to try and identify a man whose lower body was found at the scene of a suspicious fire.

The discovery was made by demolition workers at Klyne and Klyne Cash & Carry on Manchester Road, Walkden in Salford.

They found the lower half of a white male body, which was clothed and had one shoe missing. Police are treating the death as suspicious.

Investigators said the blaze last month may have been started deliberately.

Forensic experts

It was thought at the time that no one had been injured in the fire which forced the evacuation of several nearby houses.

Substantial damage was also caused to the warehouse.

Police said on Tuesday forensic experts were searching through about 20 tonnes of rubble to try to find the rest of the body.

Officers said they did not know whether the person died in the fire, afterwards in the wreckage or whether the body was hidden there.

They added that at this stage the death was being treated as suspicious as no workers had been reported missing following the fire.

The body has been taken away for examination by a Home Office pathologist.