Charred human remains found by dog walker at Savernake Forest, Wiltshire

A dog walker has discovered ‘burnt’ human remains belonging to a man at a Wiltshire beauty spot.

The pet owner stumbled across the ‘charred’ remains in the Savernake Woodland outside Marlborough in Wiltshire during a morning walk yesterday.

The dog walker raised the alarm after the grim discovery at about 8am.

Detectives rushed to the scene and launched an investigation into the unusual death.

The area has been cordoned off as a crime scene and investigators are working to establish what led to the death.

Wiltshire Police confirmed that officers were called to the woodland after a report that ‘a body had been found in Savernake Forest.’

A spokesperson added that ‘enquiries are ongoing to identify the man’s next of kin.’

Members of the public were warned to avoid the area while the investigation is ongoing, however, it’s believed the cordon has since been lifted.

At this stage, police have not said how long the remains are believed to have been in situ or whether they are treating the death as suspicious.

Savernake Forest made headlines in 2011 when the 22-year-old Sian O’Callaghan went missing after leaving a Swindon nightclub.

Her last known mobile phone signal was traced to the woodland.

She was later confirmed to have been murdered by taxi driver Christopher Halliwell, who was also found guilty of killing another young woman, Becky Godden, in 2003.

The historical Savernake Forest covers around 7 square miles and is a popular spot for dog walkers, families and outdoor enthusiasts.

It is dotted with old oak trees and beech, including the Big Belly Oak estimated to be up to 1,100 years old, and the King of Limbs tree.

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