A POST mortem is about to get underway to try and identify human remains washed up on a Hampshire beach this morning.

Police sealed off a stretch of Weston Shore in Southampton after parts of a body were found earlier today.

Officers say the gruesome discovery was made by a dog walker around 8.25am close to the yacht club.

The area in front of Southampton Sailing Club was sealed off by police who spent several hours at the scene where the remains were recovered. The cordon has since been lifted and the area reopened.

Hampshire police say it is not known at this time whether the body parts are male or female. They were removed to hospital where the post mortem examination is expected to get underway within the next hour.

Inquiries are now focussed on establishing the identity of the deceased, and checking local missing persons records. A Hampshire police spokesman said: "Whist there is nothing at this time to indicate this is suspicious, officers will keep an open mind until results of the post mortem are known and whilst inquiries continue."