A MISSING man from Blackburn, found hanged in woodland at Leyland, has been named by Lancashire Police.

Ashraf Ali, 35, was reported missing from his home in Croasdale Square, Grimshaw Park, early on Wednesday.

Police he had earlier set off from Blackburn with a rucksack, and he is known to have visited friends at the Blue Elephant restaurant in Euxton.

According to police, he told friends that he was going to catch a bus back to Blackburn - but he never arrived.

At around 5.40pm on Wednesday his body was found hanging in woodland behind Balcarres Road, Leyland, known locally as The Copse, by a passerby.

A Lancashire Police spokesman confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Ali's death, which had been reported to the Chorley coroner.