Tragedy of man who died alone yards from busy road - and nobody knows who he is

A man believed to have been sleeping rough was found dead on a patch of waste ground just yards from a busy dual carriageway and a row of shops.

Merseyside Police have still not been able to identify him more than two weeks after his body was found off Dinas Lane, Huyton, Merseyside, by the junction with Liverpool Road, despite extensive enquiries.

The man's body was found on a patch of overgrown land which was the site of a long-since demolished pub, The Farmer's Arms, according to locals.

Despite a spiked metal palisade fence enclosing the empty site, a wide gap has been left by what appears to have been a vehicle hitting the railings, allowing easy access, the Liverpool Echo reports.

Through the hole in the fence you can see litter including empty beer and cider cans and vodka bottles strewn around.

A small path has formed between thorny bushes, which the Liverpool Echo say led to a collapsed tent, a foam mat and a plastic cover protecting a backpack.

It was here, at around 6.30pm on Friday, January 28, that a passer-by noticed the body of a middle-aged man clutching a brown jacket.

Police have conducted forensic and CCTV enquiries (Liverpool Echo)

So far his cause of death has not been found, although police believe there are no suspicious circumstances around his death having conducted forensic and CCTV enquiries.

One man living a few doors down from the scene said he had no idea rough sleepers had been using the patch of land.

He said: "I know there are a few homeless people by the Asda in Huyton Village, but I have never seen anyone here.

The man's body was found on a patch of overgrown land which was the site of a long-since demolished pub, The Farmer's Arms, according to locals (Liverpool Echo)

"I have been close to that lifestyle myself a few times in my life, and I never pass someone by, I always stop and give them something.

"If I had seen him I would have tried to help him."

A driver for A1 Taxis, based opposite the waste ground, said: "It's really sad. As a taxi driver you see all walks of life and I am seeing more rough sleepers to be honest.

"It's strange that no-one seems to know who he is."

Another local resident added: "It's so sad, someone must be missing him."

A spokesman for Knowsley Council confirmed the man was not known to its services.