DETECTIVES are investigating after human remains were discovered 40 feet up in a tree during a search of a Bournemouth golf course.

The development follows the discovery of a decomposed hand and arm found at The Club at Meyrick Park on Monday afternoon.

Although a full investigation will take place, officers say the incident is being treated as non-suspicious.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the initial remains were found after they were dragged out of undergrowth by a dog.

Detective Inspector Mark Samuel, who is leading the investigation, said a specialist dog unit from South Wales joined Dorset Police to find the body.

“We have found what we believe to be further body remains quite high up in a tree in the area,” he said at lunchtime on Tuesday.

“We are keeping an open mind and trying to find out what has happened, as well as looking into the identification of the person.”

He said the remains will be recovered with “dignity,” and officers will also work to gather evidence from the scene as part of the investigation.

It is currently not possible to tell if the body is male or female.

DI Samuel said: “Specialist recovery teams are on their way to remove the body.

“We have also got a team looking into reports of missing people over the last months and years.”

However, he said identification may take some time.

Police are expected to remain at the scene into Wednesday morning.

Many living nearby have expressed their shock at the find.

Tom Derlacki, 33, who lives in Bournemouth, said: “I walk my dog here three or four times a week.

“It's a nice area, and I've certainly never seen anything dodgy or horrible happening here, so it's really awful to hear that.”

Stephanie Witt, of Winton, said: “It's absolutely shocking news.

“It's a really nice place to come and walk the dog, so it's horrendous.”

Heather Wollen, of Talbot Woods, said: “It's ghastly.

“Somebody must know something about how this has happened. It's terrible.”