'No foul play' in wood fire death

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The body was found near a make-shift shelter in woodland

A man whose burnt body was found in woodland in Sussex probably died of natural causes, police have revealed.

A fire service spokesman said crews were called to Stephenson Way, opposite Three Bridges Football Club, in Crawley, on Tuesday afternoon.

Sussex Police said the post-mortem examination showed the body had been on fire but the man had died before the blaze took hold.

There is no evidence of foul play, according to detectives.

The man's body was found near a make-shift shelter within the coppice at about 1510 BST by members of the public.

'Natural causes'

Det Insp Gordon Denslow said: "The post mortem has revealed that the unidentified man most likely died of natural causes, before the fire took hold.

"There was no evidence of foul play at the scene of the fire. Inquiries that are being carried out today should confirm the man's identity, which will enable detectives to trace his next of kin."

Full results of the post-mortem examination are not expected to be known for a number of weeks.

Sussex Police said paths near the scene had been reopened.

Detectives have appealed to cyclists, dog walkers, joggers and office workers, who have been in the Stephenson Way area of Three Bridges in the past few days to contact them.