A POLICE investigation is continuing on the Isle of Wight today after the body of a labourer was found in the garden of a flat.

The body of 36-year-old Mark Smith was discovered by a postman delivering letters to the flats in Ryde.

Police immediately sealed off the area around the flat in Victoria Street and carried house to house inquiries.

A post-mortem was carried out yesterday on Mr Smith - known locally as Chips - which revealed he had died of severe head injuries, possibly because of a fall.

But police said today that Mr Smith's death still remained a mystery.

They have repeated their appeal for any information from anyone who may have seen Mr Smith between 9pm on Tuesday and 10am on Wednesday, when his body was found.

A special police incident room has been set up in Ryde as a base for officers from Hampshire and the Isle of Wight major crime team who are heading the inquiry code named Operation Oldhouse.

Police carried out a finger-tip search of the garden at the rear of the flats in an attempt to solve the mystery of Mr Smith's death.

Films from close-circuit television cameras in the area has also been seized and footage is currently being examined.

Uniformed police officers have also been guarding a house in Lind Street near Mr Smith's home as part of the investigation.

It is believed Mr Smith, who worked as a labourer, was separated and had a young son.

The Isle of Wight coroner has been informed and an inquest will be opened early next week.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0845 045 4545.