A woman has spoken of her shock after the body of a teenager was found in an Oxford park near the bottom of her garden.

The 53-year-old Morrell Avenue resident, who asked not to be named, noticed the body at about 7.15am on May 8.

It was hanging in a tree in South Park. Police were already on the scene and the body was cut down about an hour later.

She said: "I could not believe what I was looking at. The poor lad is somebody's son.

"The poor kid. I only wish he had knocked on my door and I would have spoken to him.

"I wish they would cut that tree down now."

Theresa Bowden, 42, of Morrell Avenue, said she saw three people dressed in forensic examination suits working in the middle of the park at 7.45am.

The teenager's body was discovered by a passer-by at 5.50am. Police were on the scene within 10 minutes.

Police said the death was being treated as suspicious until proven otherwise.

South Park was cordoned off while officers carried out inquiries at the scene.

However, by 10am students were seen crossing the park to get to college at Oxford Brookes University.

Residents were also walking their dogs and jogging in the park, despite the gates being locked at the police's request.

Residents said they had heard shouting during the night. They said the park was not secure because people found it easy to climb over or slip between the railings.

An Oxford City Council spokesman said it was common for people to jump over the fence, but the council discouraged the activity.

He said: "It's a high fence and there is a danger of people injuring themselves."