POLICE were today trying to solve the mystery behind body parts which were discovered washed up on a Hampshire beach.

The painstaking investigation was continuing as officers worked to identify the human remains, which were found on Weston Shore in Southampton yesterday morning.

The gruesome discovery was made by a dog walker, at around 8.25am, to the side of Southampton Sailing Club, off Victoria Road.

Late yesterday afternoon a post mortem was getting underway as well as complex DNA testing to try and identify the body parts, which police were unable to distinguish as male or female.

Following the discovery officers sealed off a stretch of Weston Shore, including the sailing club, for several hours, as they combed the area for any further evidence that may help them solve the mystery.

Forensic teams in white suits could be seen scouring the cordoned off shoreline, which was surrounded by up to ten police vehicles for most of the morning.

The body parts were then removed from the scene and taken to hospital ahead of the examination.

Those using the sailing club during the morning were allowed in and out of the building, but members of the public walking their dogs, or enjoying a morning walk were stopped from stepping foot on the scene.

The cordon was lifted about two and a half hours later, leaving no evidence of what had happened there in the morning, apart from one small piece of police tape attached to a lamppost.

Families enjoying an afternoon walk along the coastline and those seeing to their boats in the yard were unaware of the drama that had unfolded just hours before.

Inquiries by the police were being focused 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.”