MYSTERY surrounds the death of a 40-year-old man whose body was discovered on Sunday in a garden near Petersfield.

A house off Midhurst Road, Sheet, was cordoned off for more than a day following the grim discovery on Sunday morning.

Police are currently treating the death as unexplained but non-suspicious with the findings of a post-mortem examination being deemed “inconclusive” by investigating officers.

While enquiries are ongoing the man has been identified and his next-of-kin have been notified.

People in the area reported seeing numerous police vehicles and scenes of crime officers around the well-screened house south of the A272 junction for much of Sunday.

“There were three or four police cars parked on the A272 near Sheet Common and there was tape cordoning both sides off,” said nearby resident, Ann Saunders.

“All the officers were wearing yellow flak jackets and not saying anything to neighbours.”

Another resident who got in touch with the Post said School Lane received a lot of police attention on Sunday because a motorbike was seemingly abandoned near the junction of Farnham Road.

The resident - who also found a woollen hat, gloves, pizza box and yoghurt pot beside the discarded bike - said the vehicle’s rear light was still flashing when he walked past at 7am.

The reader said: “It looked like the bike had been left in a hurry but then the weather the night before had been awful.

“Later in the morning a police Skoda Yeti parked up on the pavement next to the bike and taped it off. Later still a white forensic van pulled up and was there until the early evening.

“We also had a visit from two detectives at home, and I think that they visited other houses up the lane.”