Investigators hunt for clues in body find

Police near Tesco petrol garage at North Harbour in Portsmouth where a body was found

A post-mortem was carried out by a pathologist yesterday in a bid to find out how and when the person died.

The discovery was made by a construction worker near Tesco Northarbour on Wednesday morning at about 11am.

Investigators launched a probe following the discovery of the human remains.

Few details have been released by Hampshire police and a cordon remained in place at the site yesterday.

Police tape is still around the area and marked vans were parked at the scene.

The pathologist started to test the body at 2pm.

A worker involved in the construction of a new McDonald’s nearby, off Southampton Road, found the body.

The incident sparked a major police operation, with the exit to the petrol garage blocked off.

As reported in The News yesterday, investigators in white suits scoured the scene for evidence while police stood guard.

A blue tent was put around the body, which was said to be badly decomposed.

The construction worker previously told The News: ‘It was very shocking – certainly the most shocking thing I’ve ever seen in this job. When I saw it, I jumped a mile.

‘I couldn’t believe it. It was a body, a badly decomposed body.

‘It looked like it had clothes on. The body was propped up against the other side of the fence.

‘It’s the first time I’ve seen anything like this and I definitely hope it’s the last.’

Another construction worker on site yesterday said the three-and-a-half month project to build McDonald’s will not be delayed.