THE body of a man has been found in a children's playground this morning.

Emergency services were called to Yarrow Place, Halliwell, Bolton, at 6.46am where the man was found hanged.

Unconfirmed eyewitness reports initially said the body was that of a boy.

But police have now confirmed the body was of an Asian man, aged between 30 and 40-years-old, and they are currently working to establish his identity. 

A police spokesman said: "Police called to reports of a body found on Yarrow Place, Halliwell, Bolton.

Police attended at a children’s play area on Yarrow Place at 6.50am.

"There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death at this time."

The man is described as being very slim with a close cut beard and short dark greying hair.  

He was wearing a black hooded jacket, grey jogging bottoms and white trainers.    

And police are appealing for anyone with information to ring 0161 856 5761 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A resident of nearby Juniper Close, who didn’t want to be named, said: “Police and CSI were at the children's play park at Mere Hall registry office, off Yarrow Place. A boy appears to have died.

“My husband saw the body when he drove past.

“CSI were just turning up when I left for work and the ambulance was driving away. My husband and I drove past about 7.50am and 8.10am respectively."

Other residents spoke of their shock, with some visibly moved and in tears after learning a body had been found in the area.

The body was moved shortly after 9am, as two PCSOs watched the scene.

The park was sealed off but reopened later that morning. 

Yas Gajra, aged 34, who lives nearby, said: “It is a shock.

“I saw the police from my garden, thankfully I take my children to school round the back and not past the park.

“Lot of people use the park, my children were playing there yesterday.

“My thoughts are with the family.”

Another lady who was in tears, added: “I just the saw the police, I can’t believe it, it is such a shock.”

Another resident said: “This is such a close knit community, we all are shocked and upset by this.

“Our thoughts are with the family.

“We saw the police this morning from the window.

“Thankfully my children didn’t see anything, they just saw the police.

“Sometimes children walk past there, but fortunately they didn’t this morning.”