Police launched a suspicious death inquiry last night after firefighters discovered a body in the passenger seat of a blazing car at Great Leighs.

The incident happened around 4.30pm and a pall of black smoke was seen from Blackley Lane, behind the Essex Showground.

Firefighters tackled the blaze and made the shocking discovery.

They called in fire service investigators and Essex Police, who sent their scenes of crime investigators.

Police said that they could not speculate on the manner of the person's death and were unable to say whether it was a man or a woman until after a post-mortem examination.

Rochesters Farm proprietor David Partridge saw the smoke. He said: "I was appalled to learn that there was someone in there. The flames were really intense and black smoke was everywhere."

Published Thursday, May 29, 2003

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