MYSTERY surrounds the death of a man who was found in a Hampshire river.

The 72-year-old man, believed to be from the Botley area, is yet to be named following the discovery in the water at Curbridge Creek on Monday.

Hampshire Police has confirmed it is not treating the death as suspicious and formal identification proceedings are still ongoing.

As previously reported by the Daily Echo, the body was spotted at around noon by a coach driver who had driven a group of students to the beauty spot.

Tony Steel, 34, had driven a group of students from a Southampton-based junior school to the area near the Horse and Jockey pub, in Botley Road and was walking near the river when he saw the body floating in the water.

He made sure the children, who were having their lunch on the grass nearby, were taken away from the area before the police were called.

Officers and members of the Hampshire Constabulary Marine Unit spent several hours investigating at the scene, and a section of the bank and part of the pub car park were taped off.

A Hampshire Police spokesperson has confirmed that the next of kin have been informed.

The spokesperson added: “The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file is being prepared for the coroner. Formal identification proceedings are on-going.”