The body had been hidden behind a low wall at the back of a terraced house in the city's university area.

Local streets have been sealed off as a detailed search of the area is made.

It is understood there are similarities to other attacks attributed to the Ripper, and detectives from Manchester and Yorkshire working on the case are at the scene.

Tape-recorded message

Police say it is too early to make a connection with the 11 other victims of the Yorkshire Ripper, but the murderer has killed two others and attacked one more nearby.

Home Office pathologist Professor David Gee - who has dealt with all the other victims of the Ripper - is carrying out an examination of the body.

A tape-recorded message sent to police earlier in the year from a man claiming to be the Ripper, said that he would strike again in September or October.

Pressure is mounting on the police, who appear to be no closer to identifying the murderer since the killings began in 1975.