THE BODY discovered by a member of the public as police closed off a car park on the A3057 is of a Romsey woman.

Police cordoned off the Test Way car park along the road that links Romsey to Stockbridge after the discovery of the body of a 52-year-old woman from Romsey.

Officers were first called to the scene shortly before 11am on Wednesday after receiving reports of the concern for welfare of a person in a car at the car park.

The woman was then pronounced dead at the scene.

The car park, often used as part of Walk the Test Way across the Test Valley, was then closed off to the public for the remainder of the morning and afternoon.

Despite that, officers were still diverting walkers and runners from the site as they examined the cars.

An officer at the scene said: “A body has been found but at this early stage it isn’t being treated as suspicious.

“We are still working to identify the next of kin and examining the scene.
“There are a few things we need to consider and of course directing people who have used the car park earlier this morning away from what they may not want to see.”

A statement from the force said: “We were called at 10.46am reporting a concern for the welfare of a person in a car in the car park off of Romsey Road. We attended the scene. The person was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.”
 A further statement confirmed that the next of kin had been informed, and the death wasn’t being treated as suspicious.

A member of staff at the coroner’s office said: “The death has been reported to us and we are now investigating.

“Depending on the results, we will look into whether an inquest is needed or not.”

The site is often used as part of the annual walk across Test Valley. It runs from Longparish and Stockbridge and past the car park near Kimbridge and Mottisfont.

Chairman of nearby Michelmersh and Timsbury Parish Council Bob Davis said the initial news was “terrible”.