Police are investigating a mysterious murder case after a body was found covered in "white powder" and "smoking"’ and "dumped" in the middle of a residential street, shocking residents.
Forensics teams have been scouring the scene on a quiet road in Wigan where the corpse was left for two days now.
Mystery shrouds the grim discovery made around 7pm Thursday November 24, in Shevington, Wigan.
Police are yet to identify the dead person, or the substance covering them and murder squads are investigating.
Today, two days since the find, a cordon and forensic detectives remain in place between two houses and a clearing that leads to grassland.
One local resident told The Sun: "I was told it was very odd - the body appeared to have smoke coming off it and was covered in white powder."
Speaking after the discovery, Detective Superintendent Alan Clitherow, of Greater Manchester Police, said the identity and sex of the person will be confirmed once a Home Office post-mortem is held after the body, covered by a white and yellow police tent, has been removed from the scene.
DS Clitherow said: “We don’t know what the substance is, we have done some initial inquiries, we know it’s low risk, so as I mentioned before, anyone directly in contact with the body should seek medical advice if they feel unwell but there’s no wider risk to anyone else.”
Mr Clitherow said members of the public should not be alarmed if they see officers wearing protective clothing to remove the body, saying this is “purely precautionary”.
Earlier, GMP said the scene was "contained" and so there is "no wider risk to the surrounding area".
The sleepy Wigan village has been left stunned by the mysterious death.
Emergency services descended upon the street close to two schools, as people settled down for the evening - sending shockwaves through the quiet estate.
Upon making the discovery, police taped off a huge scene along the length of Kilburn Drive, which is just off busy B-road Shevington Lane.
One end of neighbouring Lyndon Avenue was also cordoned off by police as they investigated. The investigation continues.
