DETECTIVES are investigating the death of a man whose body was found in a badly burnt-out car at a beauty spot just a few miles over Monmouthshire's border with Powys.

The body was found by firefighters after members of the public alerted emergency services to a car on fire at secluded woodland near Crickhowell.

Dyfed-Powys Police are not treating the death as suspicious.

The man is understood to be from England and inquiries are under way to establish a link between him and the area.

Mid and West Wales Fire Brigade were called to the area known as Bluebell Woods, off Bell Fountain Road, about a mile outside Crickhowell, at around 3.10pm on Wednesday.

The man was discovered in a red Citroen Xsara car.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: "Inquiries are ongoing to identify the body and the coroner has been informed."

Yesterday afternoon the area immediately surrounding the car was sealed off by police as a scenes of crime officer examined the vehicle.

The car was due to be recovered last night and taken away for possible more analysis.

The woods are popular with dog-walkers, including Ralph Collett, 60, from the Crickhowell area.

He said: "This is very shocking and a bit of a jolt really.

"This is a lovely spot and I come up here every day.