AN investigation continues today after a Southampton park was sealed off following the discovery of human remains. 

There was a strong police presence as investigations were carried out at Riverside park in Mansbridge Road.

A tent was also erected around the remains.

It is believed they were discovered by a group of people out metal detecting on Saturday morning.

The body has not been identified by police but they have informed the family of a man, who has been missing from his city home for six months, of the discovery.

One woman, who has lived in the area for more than 60 years, said: “I heard that they had found remains.

" I often work with my dog where the tent has been put up and I have never noticed anything. 

“It was a hard bit of the park to get access to unless you knew the way, but the dog liked to go down there – I never noticed anything unusual.”

Police were notified around noon and a number of police vans were present throughout the weekend. 

A statement from Hampshire police said that officers were called to the wooded area near the pub on Saturday.

The statement added that the identity of the remains has not yet been established.

The police statement also stated that the family of Ovidijus Aukselis, who went missing from Southampton on July 15 last year, have been informed of the discovery.

At the time of his disappearance the 22-year-old’s family issued a plea to help track him down.

Ovidijus was described as having mousey blonde hair, green/blue eyes and being about six-foot tall.

He was last seen by his housemate at their home in Arnold Road, Southampton, at 6am on the day he vanished.

His sister Indre Aukselyte, 25, said it was out of character for Ovidijus to be away from home.

She said at the time: “It is very unlike Ovidijus not to be in contact with his friends or family for this long.

“My brother is a very homely person and this is really unlike something he would normally do.

“My mum is worried, the whole family is worried.” 

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: “We are unable to confirm any further details as investigations are at a very early stage. However, we are not treating the death as suspicious at this time.” 

People walking through the park yesterday spoke of their shock at the discovery.

“This is really shocking, we bring our children for walks down here all of the time because it a really safe place,” said Totton mum Sabrina O’Donnell, who was walking in the area yesterday.

Totton father, Jonathan Barton said: “This has always been such a happy place for my family. 

“It was where me and my partner had our first date more than a decade ago and where I took my son Alfie night-fishing for the first time.”