Police were today investigating the mystery death of an Oxford teenager after the boy's body was found in a park known as a gay meeting place.

Officers were called to Angel Meadow off St Clements when a member of the public dialled 999 to report a lad lying collapsed in a wooded copse, near the entrance to the park.

Paramedics tried unsuccessfully to revive the 16-year-old, and he was declared dead.

Police immediately cordoned off the area and scenes-of-crime officers were to continuing forensic investigations this morning.

Duty Sgt Bob Nicoll, of Thames Valley Police, said: "We can confirm that a 16-year-old male has been found dead at Angel Meadow and inquiries are continuing. He won't be identified until his family has been informed." Oxfordshire Ambulance Service said: "We attended an incident after receiving a call from the police to inform us that a 16-year-old had been found in a collapsed state."

Today, a triangular tent of plastic sheeting could be seen covering the spot where the body was found.

Special lighting was also put up to help officers search for clues in the darkness.

One passer-by, who asked not to be named, said: "This is very sad but in a way I am not surprised something like this has happened because Angel Meadow is a bit of a seedy area. "It is a notorious haunt for gays and dealers also use the park to sell drugs. The part of the park where the body was found is right next to the banks of the Cherwell and it is very muddy at the moment.

"If this is foul play, then whoever did this would have left quite a few footprints."

This morning, officers were guarding the cordoned-off entrance of the park, which can be reached from St Clements car park.

Angel and Greyhound Meadow, which is run by the city council, is closed to the public on weekdays "half an hour after sunset" but is known to be used after dark as a gay meeting place.

Story date: Saturday 30 January

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