A FACIAL reconstruction image has been released in a bid to identify a man whose body was found in a farm building in 2017.

Officers searched the disused barn off Bazeley Copse Lane, Micheldever on December 1, 2017, as part of enquiries into an unrelated burglary.

Inside, they found human remains along with items including a sleeping bag, a rucksack, a Sony Walkman, a Martina Cole novel and a Winchester street atlas, and they are thought to have been there for at least a year.

Despite extensive forensic and DNA examinations, officers have been unable to identify this man, and are now appealing for help from the public.

Following a Home Office post mortem, and various scientific tests, police believe the man was white, age ranging from his 30s to his 60s, around 5ft 6in tall, short, fair brown hair, and he had a narrow face with an overbite.

The cause of death was unascertained, but there were no signs that the man had been attacked or restrained. Detectives are treating the death as unexplained but non-suspicious.

They have followed several lines of enquiry to identify this man, including DNA testing, dental examinations, fingerprint analysis from items left in the barn, and checking people reported missing in the Hampshire Constabulary area and other forces.

They have also liaised with the National Crime Agency’s UK Missing Persons Unit.

So far, the man has not been identified.

The facial reconstruction image that has been produced by Dr Christopher Rynn at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at the University of Dundee.

Detectives have also released images of the clothing the man was wearing, and items that were found in the barn.

Items include a black Karrimor backpack, a Blacks olive green sleeping bag, yellow protective gloves, a Sony Walkman, a Winchester street atlas and the Martina Cole novel, Close.

Clothing included a pair of pale Fruit of the Loom tracksuit bottoms, a navy blue zipped Outdoor Scene fleece jacket, dark coloured black woolly hat, size 10 Wellington boots, and a pale Marks and Spencer long-sleeved shirt.

Detective Constable Clare Hughes said: “Our priority is to identify this man, make contact with those who knew him and give them some degree of closure. Tell us if you think you can help our investigation.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting 44170467777.