Police officers investigating the death of a man after his charred corpse was found in a burnt-out car are not treating it as suspicious.

A post-mortem examination held yesterday showed that the man, believed to be aged 27 and local, died of inhalation of fire fumes.

A police spokesman said: "Police in Braintree investigating the death of a man whose body was found in a burnt out car yesterday afternoon near Great Leighs are not treating his death as suspicious.

"Police believe they know who the man is and he is believed to be a local man aged about 27, but he will not be formally identified for three weeks until results from DNA are returned."

Officers want to speak to the drivers of two vehicles seen in the area who may be vital witnesses.

They would like the driver of a white Ford flat-back van seen in the area with the registration number beginning with N90 and the driver of a blue green Peugeot to contact them.

Braintree firefighters discovered the body after being called out to put out a car blaze in Blackley Lane, Great Leighs, on Wednesday afternoon.

Anyone with information on this incident should call Braintree CID on 01376 551312

Published Friday, May 30, 2003

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