Police appeal for witnesses after body found at Chippenham supermarket (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Police appeal for witnesses after body found at Chippenham supermarket

1:21pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in Chippenham By Staff reporter

Detectives are appealing for witnesses in relation to the body found in Sainsbury’s car park, Chippenham, in the early hours of this morning.

At approximately 3am a dog handler on a routine patrol discovered a fire in part of the store's car park in Bath Road.

The fire service attended, extinguished the fire and the area was cordoned off. Once the fire was put out, the police discovered the body within the debris. At this early stage, the police have not been able to confirm if the body is a man or a woman. Forensic examinations of the scene are taking place this afternoon.

The body will be removed from the scene this afternoon and taken for a post-mortem examination at Flax Bourton Mortuary.

The car park remains cordoned off and the store remains shut.

It is too early to say whether this incident is suspicious but inquiries continue.

Senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Mark Power said: “We would like to hear from anyone who was in and around the area of the Sainsbury’s car park between the hours of 1.30am and 3am. The car park is quite active late at night, as people drive through here to use the cash point or walk through as a short cut.

"In particular, we would like to hear from you if you were driving through the car park or if you were the young couple who were spotted walking through the car park holding hands. You may hold information that would assist us in our inquiries, so I would urge you to speak to us.”

Sainsbury’s supermarket remains closed and we are asking the public to avoid the area to reduce traffic congestion.

If you have information that may assist police please call 101 or if you wish to remain anonymous please call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.