Detectives investigating the death of teenager Richard Jackson, whose body was found at Oxford's Angel Meadow, are appealing for information from the public.

Richard, 16, originally from the Chipping Norton area, had been staying at the Bridge Project, a centre for the homeless in Iffley Road, shortly before he was found dead in the park, off St Clements.

Oxford police said at the weekend that they were not treating the death as suspicious but investigations are continuing into how the youngster came to be lying face down in a puddle of muddy water.

Tests carried out at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford was inconclusive but indicated that the teenager died on Friday from asphyxia. Further tests are now being carried out.

Det Insp Melvin Young, head of Oxford CID, said: "I am going to keep an open mind in this case until I have built up a clear picture of exactly what happened in the park.

"To do this, we need to hear from anyone who was associated with Mr Jackson, or who was in the vicinity of Angel Meadow on Friday."

On Saturday, a friend of Richard, who asked to be known only as "Mark", told how he found the body of his pal in Angel Meadow.

He said the youngster moved to Oxford after falling out with his family in Chipping Norton.

Mark, 25, said his friend wasn't involved in drugs or the gay scene.

Barry Stacey, manager at the Bridge Project in Iffley Road, confirmed that Richard Jackson had been a recent resident but said Richard Jackson was not staying at the centre the night before his death.

Anyone with information should call Oxford police on 01865 266333.

Story date: Wednesday 03 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.