POLICE are probing how a man died whose body was found on a Valleys roadside.

The body of a 27-year-old man was found at the side of Penmaen Road, between Oakdale and Pontllanfraith, in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A post mortem examination has been carried out and further tests are ongoing.

Officers are treating the death as unexplained and looking at CCTV footage, conducting house-to-house enquiries and carrying out forensic work to try and establish the circumstances surrounding his death. It is understood they are probing whether a car was involved.

A Gwent Police spokeswoman said the man, who was from the Bristol area, was wearing black combat trousers, a black vest, and dog tags.

His family have been told of his death.

A section of Penmaen Road outside Woodfield Park Funeral Home remained cordoned off yesterday, and a half mile stretch of road taking in Park View Bungalows and Oakdale Terrace was closed to traffic.

People living in the area said they were woken by blue flashing lights at around 4am on Sunday morning, and forensic police teams were at the scene throughout Sunday.

Investigations were continuing at the site yesterday, and a small white tent covered a section of the road heading towards Oakdale.

Residents spoke of their shock at Sunday morning's discovery.

Oakdale Terrace resident Kenneth George, 85, said: "We woke up yesterday, and we were told by police that if you went out of the road you couldn't go back in. There was a helicopter up, and forensics people there too, but we have not been told anything about what has happened."

A resident from Park View Bungalows, who did not want to be identified, said: "I think it's dreadful for their family. We're all shocked. I just feel really sad about it."

Anyone with information or who was in the vicinity between 2am and 4am on July 17 is asked to contact Gwent Police on 101.