A 51-YEAR-OLD man was found hanging from a tree in Sunnyhurst Woods, Darwen, early this morning.

A walker passing through the woods at about 5.45am came across the man near to the Olde England Kiosk - a building used for refreshments and gatherings near the Earnsdale Road entrance.

Police were called and sealed off the woods.

A police spokesperson said: “The death is not believed to be suspicious at this stage.

“It is also believed that the man was someone who has been reported as missing.”

Police have identified the man but his details are not yet being made public.

Dennis Gilibrand, president of the Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood, said he was extremely saddended to hear the news.

He said: “As a group the Friends of Sunnyhurst Wood would like to pass their condolences to the family of the man.

“The wood is a place of peacefulness and quietness and we are shocked, as I’m sure many of the people who use the woods are, that this has happened.

“It has been many years since something of this nature has happened in the wood.”