Murder inquiry starts after firefighters find body in bin

Detectives in Southampton were called to the Empress Road Industrial Estate by Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service at around 3.10am yesterday.

They were dealing with a bin fire and discovered a body, police said.

Detective Inspector Simon Baker, who is leading the murder hunt, said: “We are making urgent inquiries to identify the body. A post-mortem examination is currently being conducted by a Home Office pathologist.

“A dedicated team of officers are pursuing many lines of inquiry to identify the person, or people, responsible for this serious crime.

The detective said he was unable to say whether the victim was male or female, their age or how badly burned the body was.

The area where the body was found is part of Southampton’s red light district and officers will be talking to sex workers as well as residents. The bin where the body was found has now been taken away for forensic examination.