DETECTIVES are attempting to unravel the final movements of a 22-year-old taxi driver, hours before his badly burned body was found in a Whitefield park.

Police have named the dead man as father-of-one Tahir Shahoor Butt from the Fallowfield area of Manchester.

His body was discovered in Springwater Park, off Lily Hill Street, Whitefield, last Wednesday (July 21), next to his white Vauxhall Vectra taxi which was burned-out.

A post mortem last Thursday concluded that death was probably due to smoke inhalation. Further tests are being carried out and police are also awaiting formal DNA confirmation of Mr Butt's identity.

He was last seen driving his car on Kingsway, Manchester, at about 9pm last Tuesday.

Detective Inspector Simon Collier, of Whitefield CID, said: "We are anxious to trace anyone who can help piece together Mr Butt's movements, particularly on Tuesday evening. He was a licensed private-hire taxi driver and used his white Vauxhall Vectra for that purpose.

"The Vectra vehicle was quite distinctive as it contained the 'Union Taxi' logo on yellow stickers to the bodywork."

He added: "We have information that he was in the Manchester area during the daytime on Tuesday, but it is vital that we establish how he came to be in Springwater Park in Whitefield."

Det Insp Collier said that last Tuesday evening, the taxi driver had been off duty. He continued: "Tahir was a man of good character and the reason for his death remains a mystery.

"Forensic examinations and police inquiries are continuing but I would appeal to anyone who knew Tahir or saw him last Tuesday to contact Whitefield police.

"Tahir's family are devastated by the death. He is from a close family and also leaves a partner and three-month-old baby daughter."

He added: "At this stage we are not treating the death as suspicious, but information from the public is still important as we try to establish exactly what happened to Mr Butt."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Whitefield CID on 0161 856 8243 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.