A MURDER probe has been launched after the body of a man was found in a car park beside a Lancashire beauty spot today.

Police sealed off a car park off Moor Road, near Anglezarke Reservoir, Rivington, after the body of an Asian man in his late 30s was discovered.

Officers working with Bolton Mountain Rescue Team made the discovery just before 10am and forensic teams have been working in the area throughout the day.

A witness appeal has been made for anyone who saw a silver BMW car, registration number DF02 JFK, in the hours leading up to the body being discovered.

The car is thought to have been driven around the reservoir area, from around 5.15pm on Sunday.

Police have confirmed that the body and the vehicle were discovered separately but have not yet revealed what links the two.

Forensic teams spent today at the scene searching to clues.

Detective Superintendent Steve Brunskill is leading the investigation, with the support of a team of detectives from Lancashire Police’s southern division.

A Lancashire police spokesman said: “We can confirm that this is being treated as a murder investigation.

“We are folllowing several lines of inquiry.”

Police say several more clues are expected from the results of the post mortem examination which took place at 6pm today.

Anglezarke Reservoir was built in the 1850s and is a wildlife haven with a woodland trail, as well as a supply of drinking water.