POLICE are continuing their investigations after a woman was found in a distressed state in a city centre car park.

Officers closed the multi-storey car park in Salisbury Street in Southampton yesterday after the woman was discovered in the early hours of the morning.

An 18-year-old man, from Fordingbridge, was arrested in connection with the incident and is being questioned.

The woman is being supported by specially-trained officers but a Hampshire police spokesman said the two people may be known to one another.

Motorists looking to use the car park were greeted by police vans and officers guarding the entrance.

Police tape also blocked pedestrian entrances to the stairwells.

Southampton City Council, which operates the car park, advised drivers to use neighbouring facilities, such as Grovesenor Square.

Police activity was focused on the ground level of the car park an officer wearing a forensic face mask was seen gathering evidence.

Officers at the scene remained tight lipped as to the nature of the incident and people working nearby had not been given any information.

Ross Le-Vas, who works at the Ryman Stationery shop in London Road, told the Daily Echo: “I have no idea what’s going on but my colleague tried to drive in there at 7am and she saw that the car park was closed off by police.

“She needed to find another parking space in Archers Road.”

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One resident, who did not want to be named, said they attempted to use the car park but were turned away.

Another passerby said: “I just walked past and I saw it was closed.

“There are sometimes problems with homeless people in that car park.”

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: “Police cordoned off Salisbury Street car park in Southampton after a woman was discovered in a distressed state in the early hours of Friday, November 14.

“Specially-trained officers are currently supporting the woman and working with her to establish how she came to be at the location.

“An 18-year-old man from Fordingbridge has been arrested in connection with the incident and is currently being questioned.”

Anyone with information should contact Southampton CID by calling 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.