Community in Golden Grove in Southampton in shock amid major police investigation after body find

Residents returned home last night to find police tape blocking their St Mary's homes while officers from Hampshire police stood guard around a cordon.

Forensics experts worked late into the night examining the scene, combing the area for clues and leaving markers as they gathered evidence.

• PHOTOS: The Golden Grove death probe in pictures

One marked item was a discarded trainer.

White, well worn and of no obvious brand it could be seen lying on the ground outside a forensic tent where officers were trying to work out what led to the “unexplained death” in Golden Grove.

The drama unfolded when the body was discovered on the Josian Walk footpath on the estate yards from a children's playground.

Youngsters were playing on swings and see-saws oblivious to the tragedy which had occurred earlier that day.

Paramedics and Hampshire police were called to the scene at about 1.50pm yesterday.

One resident described the incident as "shocking".

The woman, who the Daily Echo is not naming, said she saw a man who she believed was in his 30s lying on the ground as she was returning from the city centre.

He was found on the ground outside her house in Golden Grove.

She told the Daily Echo: “I have no idea who he was it is quite shocking.

“It's quite shocking for all of us because it has happened next to our house. We have been living her for six years.

• Probe into body found in Southampton

"There's lots and lots of new people here and its quite shocking.”

The mum-of-two added that she fears for her children's safety.

She said: “It's worrying, I don't know what's going to happen next."

Less than a month ago, two people were charged following a stabbing in the same area, which left a 34-year-old in hospital.

Last night the area remained cordoned off while neighbours came to terms with a second tragedy.

A father of five said he had seen police at the scene for the best part of two weeks.

Anthony Miles, 29, an engineer recently moved to the area from North London and now lives round the corner from yesterday's incident.

He said he regularly hears shouting coming from the flats.

He said: “Police have been here for the last week and a half. What they have been doing now is no different. They have been at the same address for two weeks, they must know that something's happening.”

Kathy Parker (pictured above), who lives nearby, said: “It's getting awful here. It's frightening. I take the dogs round here first thing in the morning for walks and I am looking over my shoulder. It's not safe like it used to be.”

Another neighbour said that despite young families or pensioners living in the nearby block of flats, crime was getting worse in their neighbourhood.

He said he had seen syringes in the hedgerows recently.

He said: “This has been going on for years. The first time it happens it's all big news but now it isn't.

"It's a shame, because the homes here are lovely. We all know each in these blocks.”