POLICE are today continuing to try to identify a mystery corpse found submerged in mud beside the River Ouse.

A post-mortem examination was due to be held last night, as police remained baffled by the discovery.

The submerged body was recovered from beside the river in Acaster Malbis after being spotted by a member of the public on Sunday morning.

North Yorkshire Police initially said the death was non-suspicious but said yesterday it was being treated as “unexplained”, meaning it may yet be regarded as suspicious.

They have been talking to neighbouring forces to collate details of missing people and York CID are also now involved in the investigation, although a force spokesman said this was routine with unexplained deaths. The force is expected to make an appeal for information today.

Attempts to recover the body were initially hampered by the conditions and The Press understands it is badly decomposed, making identification difficult.

Police were yesterday still unable to say whether it was male or female although they believe it is not that of York accountant Chris Baker, 29, who has been missing since December 20.