Probe as human head found in field

It is not clear whether the body part, found by a member of the public in Asfordby, Leicestershire, on Tuesday afternoon, belonged to a man or a woman.

But Leicestershire Police are in contact with their counterparts in Hertfordshire, where in recent days a man's arm and leg have been discovered.

Detective Superintendent Julia McKechnie, of Leicestershire Police, said: "Our main priority in the initial stages is to determine the identity of the person involved.

"This will largely be determined by the forensic investigations, which could take some days to complete.

"In the meantime, we're looking into the circumstances surrounding the discovery but are keeping an open mind as to why and how the head came to be in the field.

"It is too early to confirm whether it is linked to any crime or investigation being undertaken by colleagues in other forces but we are naturally liaising with other forces as you would expect in an inquiry of this nature."

Police said the head was found on land off Hoby Road near Asfordby cemetery, but a spokesman added: "We are fairly confident that the head has not been transferred from a nearby grave."

Police helicopters were reportedly searching woodlands in the Asfordby area, near Melton Mowbray, on Tuesday afternoon.

Tactical support vans, police dogs and dozens of officers in teams are scouring the cordoned-off area.