Forensic teams continue to work on a residential road in Wigan, where a body covered in “potentially hazardous” substances was discovered dumped.

Mystery surrounds the grim discovery on Kilburn Drive at around 7pm on Thursday night (November, 24) in Shevington, Wigan. Police are continuing to work to identify the dead person and the substance and Murder squad detectives are investigating.

Today (Saturday, November 26) an increased forensic team and police officers are at the scene, a cordon remains in place and a tent, erected after the incident is still set up between two houses and next to a clearing that leads to grassland.

Forensic teams continue to work at the scene in Shevington, Wigan

Speaking after the discovery, Detective Superintendent Alan Clitherow, of Greater Manchester Police, said the identity and sex of the person will be confirmed once a Home Office post-mortem is held after the body, covered by a white and yellow police tent, has been removed from the scene.

DS Clitherow said: “We don’t know what the substance is, we have done some initial inquiries, we know it’s low risk, so as I mentioned before, anyone directly in contact with the body should seek medical advice if they feel unwell but there’s no wider risk to anyone else.”

A forensic officer at the scene of the grim discovery

Mr Clitherow said members of the public should not be alarmed if they see officers wearing protective clothing to remove the body, saying this is “purely precautionary”.

An investigation is under way after a body was found in a village on the outskirts of Wigan last night

The body was found on Kilburn Avenue in Shevington, on rough ground between neighbouring houses, which leads to a dirt track and open fields.

The small Wigan village has been left stunned by the mysterious death. Emergency services descended upon the street close to two schools, as people settled down for the evening - sending shockwaves through the quiet estate.

Forensic teams continue to work at the scene

Upon making the discovery, police taped off a huge scene along the length of Kilburn Drive, which is just off busy B-road Shevington Lane. One end of neighbouring Lyndon Avenue was also cordoned off by police as they investigated. The investigation continues.

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