A MURDER inquiry was under way after a father-of-two's body was found on a footpath near a Southampton supermarket.

The grim discovery was made by a woman out walking her dog in William Macleod Way, Millbrook, around 9.15am yesterday.

Detectives confirmed the death was being treated as suspicious. It is understood builder Edward Maddick, 46, of Bampton Close, Millbrook, had suffered head injuries.

A post-mortem was being carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr Hugh White at Southampton General Hospital last night to establish the cause of death.

The post mortem examination showed Mr Maddick, who is married with two teenage children, died from severe head injuries.

The builder had been out socialising in the Shirley High Street area but had not been seen since around midnight on Saturday.

Forensic experts were called in to make a fingertip search of the pathway while detectives carried out house to house inquiries in the area. CCTV footage was also being examined.

A squad of around 20 officers was working on the inquiry from an incident room at Hulse Road divisional police headquarters in Southampton.

The investigation, codenamed Operation Erskine, is being led by Det Chief Insp Martin Fotheringham. Today part of Tebourba Way near the Tesco supermarket remained sealed off while investigations at the scene continued.

Hampshire police spokeswoman Pauline Davey said: Detectives said the woman who found the body ran to nearby Tebourba Way, where she flagged down a motorist who subsequently called Hampshire Ambulance Service.

Police then immediately closed off the carriageway between Romsey Road and William Macleod Way.

The path where the man's body was found is a popular short-cut used by local people to get to the nearby Tesco supermarket.

Police believe residents may have seen or heard something suspicious as they walked to the late-night kiosk at the Tesco garage, or returned to Millbrook estate after a night out.

Detectives want to hear from anyone who was in the area between midnight on Saturday and 6am yesterday.

Call the Operation Erskine team at Hulse Road on 0845 045 4545, or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.