THE detective leading the investigation into the body of a man found near a railway at Palmers Green said the victim probably got there "under his own steam".

Detective Inspector John Cardow said police are treating the death as “unexplained” and have not ruled out suicide despite the fact the corpse was burned - as his body showed no other signs of an attack.

The man’s charred remains, which had 100 per cent burns, was found underneath a small railway arch which formed part of the bridge at Broomfield Lane.

The corpse was discovered by a Travis Perkins employee at 11.00am on Wednesday, who was confronted with the body when he went to the edge of the builder's merchants site in Bridge Drive in search of scaffolding.

Det Insp Cardow said: "The man has got there under his own steam. That is why it is being treated as unexplained."

He added: “We know he wasn’t assaulted, he didn’t have a scratch on him, other than the fact that he was horribly burned.

“The indication is he wasn’t there long – just a few hours - as there are a lot of foxes around but he was untouched.”

Fibres on his body indicate he worked for a bus operator - and police are enquiring with several - or knew someone who does.

Det Insp Cardow said: “We still do not know who he is, apart from having clues that point to a bus company, indicted from the residue of clothing he was wearing. At the moment we have no missing person’s reports that could relate to him. He is not known from police records. We don’t know what the motive is, just that he died from fire.”

A post mortem yesterday, conducted at Hornsey mortuary, found that the cause of death was burning with an accelerant – fluid such as petrol – used.

The man is estimated to be between 20 and 40-years-old, with light black skin, weighed 65 kilos, and of slim build.

Police are awaiting toxicology report results which could take up to two weeks to be returned to find out if any drugs were in his system when he died. DNA tests will also be returned in a few days.

Det Insp Cardow urged anyone who thinks they may have known the victim to get in touch. He said: “It could take some time to identify him if he lived on his own or had booked leave from work. It is still early days, but maybe somebody knows someone matching his description who has not been seen for a few days.”

The number for Edmonton CID is 0208 345 4355