Body found near offices in Folds Road, Bolton town centre

The discovery was made at 12.20pm today in a small wooded area, adjacent to a former Bolton Council car park and two office blocks, Benchmark House and Regent House, in Folds Roads.

Police confirmed the body was a man in his 50s and it is believed the corpse had been there a while.

A source said the discovery could have been made by an employee returning to work after the festive break at one of the two office blocks - one occupied by mergers and acquisitions specialist Benchmark International and the other by chartered surveyors The Vinden Partnership.

A North West Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We were called 1.15pm to Benchmark House, Folds Point, in Folds Road to reports that somebody had found a body.

"We sent a rapid response vehicle. 

"It’s in the hands of the police."

Forensics officers spent the afternoon combing the site for clues.

Police cordoned off the woodland and part of the car park, which was closed by the council last year.

The council owns the majority of the wooded land around the car park but it is not entirely clear where exactly the body was found. 

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said: "Shortly after 12.20pm on Monday January 4, police in Bolton were called to Folds Road following a report that a body had been found. 

"Officers attended and found the body of a man in his 50s.

"There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances at this stage.

"This case has now been passed to the coroner."