ESSEX residents are being asked to help solve an horrific murder after a man's body was dumped at the side of a busy road before being set on fire.

James Hore

ESSEX residents are being asked to help solve an horrific murder after a man's body was dumped at the side of a busy road before being set on fire.

Police in the Midlands have launched a murder investigation after the severely burnt body was found at the side of the M45 near Dunchurch in Warwickshire.

They hope that someone in Essex may have links to the dead man and have launched an appeal in the county for information.

The flaming body was found last Tuesday at about 1.15pm but detectives have been unable to identify who it was and Warwickshire Police also want to speak to anyone who travelled to the Midlands and saw anything suspicious on their journey.

Computer images of the victim's face have been released in a bid to identify him.

The images, taken during the post-mortem, show the man's face and profile but do not show skin tone, colour or facial hair.

His ethnicity is unknown, but the picture shows he had a “distinctively-shaped nose” and slightly protruding front teeth.

He is also believed to have had extended sideburns or a full beard which was dark but greying and it is thought he had “longish wispy hair” and was between 5ft2ins and 5ft 6ins tall and aged between 45 and 75.

Detective Superintendent Adrian McGee said: “I'm appealing for anyone in Essex who may not have received a text on New Year's Eve from a friend or loved one to come forward.

“Was anyone matching this description due to contact you at the start of 2009?

“We need to identify who he is and his closest family and friends. We also want to hear from anyone in Essex who was driving along the M45 on Tuesday, December 30 between 12.30pm and 1.30pm and who may have seen anything suspicious or out of the ordinary, such as a car stopping on the hard shoulder.”

Detectives said the man had sustained “substantial head injuries” and was dead prior to his body being left.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Warwickshire Police on 01926 415789 or email information to incidentroom@warwickshire.police.uk