Police launched an investigation over weekend following the discovery of a dead body in a wooded area near Tom Moore's Tavern, on the Island's East End.

The body, believed to be in a badly decomposed state, was found by a member of the public in the Walsingham Nature Reserve late Saturday afternoon.

Police are not releasing the identity or gender of the of the deceased person, until further investigation.

Police media relations spokesman Dwayne Caines said several Serious Crimes Unit officers and a Government pathologist have been combing the Hamilton Parish property since Saturday looking for possible leads. Foul play had not been ruled out.