MYSTERY surrounds the death of a man whose body was discovered by friends in a wooded area in Newmarket.

Four men went into Newmarket Police Station at about 6.15pm on Thursday to say they had found the man dead following a search. He had gone missing four days earlier.

Officers immediately attended the wooded area, off Bury Road, and found the body of a man, possibly in his 30s or 40s.

Police have now established that the dead man, who had not previously been reported as missing, used to visit the area often.

Initial enquiries have established he is a foreign national and his next of kin live abroad. Police are in the process of locating his family.

Formal identification has taken place, however details of the man will not be released until his next of kin have been notified.

A standard post-mortem examination is due to take place on Tuesday to ascertain the cause of death. At this stage, it is being treated as unexplained.

A number of stables based along Bury Road said they were not aware any of their employees had gone missing.

The area in the woods was cordoned off, but that has since been lifted.

Anyone with information is asked to call Suffolk Police on 101.