MYSTERY surrounds how the body of a woman came to be washed up in Southampton.

The remains of the 24-year-old were discovered on the River Itchen shoreline at Hazel Road in the Woolston area of the city.

Although police have not revealed her identity, they have confirmed the woman was not part of a missing |person enquiry and has been identified.

A man who did not want to be named but lives close to where the body was discovered said he saw at least five police cars at the scene, along with an ambulance.

He told how police were tight-lipped about the discovery but said the spot where the body was found is popular with the amateur rowing club, which is based in the road.

Also near the location is the base of the Jubilee Sailing Trust charity. Last night a member of staff described the news as “a shock”.

He said: “We have disabled people that sail with us and it would not have been nice if someone had seen that.”

Hampshire police said officers were now preparing a file for Hampshire coroner Grahame Short and were not treating the woman’s death as suspicious.

A spokesman confirmed police were called by South Central Ambulance Service just after 8am on Sunday August 17.

Her death remains unexplained.