A BODY was discovered by a member of the public as police closed a car park on the A3057 close to Kimbridge yesterday.

Police cordoned off the Test Way car park along the road that links Romsey to Stockbridge.

Officers were called to the scene shortly before 11am after receiving reports of concern for the welfare of a person in a car.

After they arrived, the person was pronounced dead at the scene.

The car park, often used as part of Walk the Test Way across the Test Valley, was closed to the public for the remainder of the morning and afternoon.

Despite that, officers were still diverting walkers and runners from the linking pathways.

An officer at the scene said: “A body has been found but at this early stage it isn’t being treated as suspicious.

“We are still working to identify the next of kin and examining the scene.

“There are a few things we need to consider and, of course, directing people who have used the car park earlier this morning away from what they may not want to see.”

At the time of printing, Hampshire Constabulary said they were still trying to contact the next of kin before releasing any further details.

A statement from the force said: “We were called at 10.46am reporting a concern for the welfare of a person in a car in the car park off of Romsey Road.

“We attended the scene. The person was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time. We are still in the process of contacting the next of kin, so we will not be issuing anything further until that has happened.”

The car park remained shut to the public until it was reopened in the late afternoon.

The site is often used as part of the annual walk across Test Valley. The event runs from Longparish and Stockbridge and past the car park near Kimbridge and Mottisfont.

Chairman of nearby Michelmersh and Timsbury Parish Council, Bob Davis, said it was “terrible” news, but that he didn’t want to comment further until more details had emerged.