Mystery body came from Midlands in rubbish truck

9:42am Thursday 15th May 2008

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A DECOMPOSED body found in Crayford may have travelled from the Midlands in a truckload of waste for recycling.

Police were called at 2pm on Tuesday (May 13) to Viridor's Materials Recycling Facility in Century Wharf, after the body of a man was discovered among rubbish which had arrived from Redditch, in Worcestershire.

The age and ethnicity of the man remains a mystery despite a post-mortem examination yesterday - and police say further tests will now be carried out to establish his identity.

Police say they are treating the death of the man as "unexplained".

The body - which was intact but badly decomposed - is thought to have come from the Crossgates waste depot in Redditch - run by Severn Waste Management.

A spokesman confirmed the company is helping police with their investigation.

Recycled material from homes in Redditch is collected by Redditch Borough Council and taken to the waste holding site - before being transported to Crayford.

The recycling plant in Crayford receives dry materials for recycling from both household and commercial collections.

A Viridor spokesman said the centre will remain closed until the investigation is finished and the company is working to provide alternative arrangements for its customers.