Man's body found in Wolverhampton canal

Officers were called to the body in the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal yesterday afternoon.

It was close to the New Regency Banqueting Suit, at the Wulfrun Trading Estate in Foxes Lane, Dunstall.

A cordon was put up while police officers, joined by technical support teams from West Midlands Fire Service, investigated the scene.

Divers using a stretcher float were also called to help retrieve the body and a blue tent put up next to the scene.

When asked about the discovery yesterday, a police spokesman said they were treating the death as 'unexplained'.

She added the force received a call to the scene at 12.30pm.

The area was cordoned off as far as Crown Street with significant police presence still evident at the site into the evening.

A total of six police vehicles, two fire technical rescue vans and a water support unit attended as well as two vans from the Canal and River Trust.

Paul Hill, from the Canal and River Trust said: "We've been called out by our guys in the office to assist the police and the fire brigade with an incident."

A couple in their thirties, who asked not to be named, were hoping to walk their Alsation dog along the canal when they were diverted by police.

"It doesn't surprise me to be honest." The man said, "This is the first time I've come back to this area in years and I thought we should take the dog out for a walk along here and this has happened.

"It used to be notorious round here."

Customers from nearby builders' merchant Wickes, that backs on to the area where the body was found, were advised to take alternative routes home.

One man on his push bike said: "I've had to walk all the way round here because the police wouldn't let me through my usual route.

"It's taken me ages to get here."