The identity of a man found dead in wasteland in Oxford was still a mystery last night.

Police admitted they still did not know who the man was as they appealed for information about anyone who had gone missing within the past few days.

They refused to discuss how the man died, although a police source has told the Oxford Mail they were investigating whether it was an elaborate suicide involving a knife, drainpipe and length of rope.

The man's body was found near an electricity pylon on ground near the Seacourt Park and Ride off Botley Road just after 9am on Tuesday.

Yesterday it was revealed a post mortem examination confirmed he died from a head wound.

Police spokesman Kate Smith told the Oxford Mail at 5pm yesterday that - 32 hours after the body was discovered - all attempts to find out who he was have failed.

He did not have any identification on him and is not one of the people Oxford police have listed as missing.

Miss Smith said: "I think we can call it a mystery.

"We don't know who he is or who his family is."

Now detectives are hoping the public will be able to help them.

The man is described as white, slim and around 5ft 11ins, and was in his early to mid 20s.

He had brown to auburn short hair and had light coloured eyes.

Det Insp Kevin Elkins said: "We are trying to establish who this man was and are carrying out a number of inquiries.

"If you know who he was or know of someone fitting the description who has been missing for the last few days, I urge you to contact me immediately."

Officially his death is being treated as un- explained.

The Oxford Mail asked Miss Smith if murder had been ruled out and if the head wound was caused by a knife.

She refused to comment.

A police cordon around the area was removed at 6.30pm last night.

Miss Smith said they had ruled out the possibility that the man had left a vehicle at the Seacourt park and ride.

However the source had told the Oxford Mail that while officers had initially thought he may have been murdered, that was now thought less likely.

Detectives are investigating whether he killed himself using the items found at the scene.

The source had said, if it was true, it was one of the most elaborate and bizarre suicides Oxford police had dealt with.