The body of a young man was found hanged from a tree in an Oxford park on May 8.

South Park was cordoned off while police examined the scene.

Officers said the death was being treated as suspicious.

Thames Valley Police spokesman Sian Hickman said officers were called at 5.50am by an Oxford man who spotted the body.

Police arrived minutes later and the park was closed.

However, by 10am students were crossing the park to get to Oxford Brookes University, and residents were walking their dogs -- despite the gates being padlocked.

Ms Hickman said: "We found the body of a male hanged from a tree. We're are treating it as suspicious until we can prove otherwise."

Retired electrician Ian Gerrard, who has lived in Morrell Avenue, next to the park, for 45 years, said: "There are often screams and shouts from people who appear to be spending the night in the park.

"But it's generally peaceful and problem-free."

He said it was impossible to secure the park at night because fence bars had been pushed apart in places, allowing people to slip through.