A BODY found in a field just metres from Royal Blackburn Hospital has been identified as missing Blackburn man Gordon Doonan.

Mr Doonan, 38, of Hollin Bridge Street, had not been seen for over two weeks and police had launched a missing person inquiry.

Police officers sealed off an area between the hospital and Fishmoor Reservoir after the grisly discovery on Sunday afternoon.

A post-mortem examination has been carried out and Mr Doonan's family have been informed.

His badly decomposed body was found after police were alerted by a passer-by.

Worries were first raised about Mr Doonan's whereabouts last week by his concerned family and friends.

Police publicly appealed for help in tracing him.

Mr Doonan had not been seen since 1pm on September 14 when he discharged himself from the hospital. Police said he was suffering from a number of ailments and he had been receiving treatment after he was admitted following a collapse.

Detective Inspector Paul Withers said Mr Doonan's body was found near a wall and was concealed by some undergrowth.

Det Insp Withers said they are not treating the discovery of his body as suspicious.

He said: "Mr Doonan appears to have fallen after leaving the hospital.

"He had a number of health problems and had suffered a collapse just two days before he went to hospital."

Det Insp Withers said that officers had previously searched a wide area looking for Mr Doonan near his home and along the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which he was known to frequent.

He added: "Clearly his family are very upset and had been very concerned about him since he went missing."