Police have today identified a man who was found close to death near a Shropshire canal – but say they still don’t know how he died.

Detectives named the man as 44-year-old computer technician Kevin Kirkland and said investigations were continuing to establish how he died and if anyone else was involved.

Mr Kirkland was discovered just after 8am on Wednesday by two passers-by near Broomfield Road in Newport. He was taken to the Princess Royal Hospital where he died at 8.50am.

Police said Mr Kirkland was a single man who lived alone in Newport and worked for IT firm Synnex based in Stafford Park, Telford.

A major police investigation involving about 30 officers has been launched. A post mortem examination has not identified a cause of death.

Detective Inspector Steve Tonks, leading the investigation, today said: “At this stage Mr Kirkland’s death is being treated as unexplained but we have got a lot of work to do to try and establish the exact circumstances surrounding this unusual case.

“We need to establish whether Mr Kirkland was on his own or whether anyone else was with him before he was found.

“We have not yet established whether or not there was any third party involvement in this case.

He added: “We are keen to hear from anyone who uses the footpaths close to Newport canal who might have seen Mr Kirkland on December 29 or on any previous occasion in that particular area.

“Equally we would like to hear from anyone who may have seen him in Newport on December 29.”

Photographs of Mr Kirkland’s belongings found in a bag next to him – alongside the canal between Newport and Edgmond – were released yesterday as detectives sought to identify the body.

They included a fleece jacket, woolly hat and spectacles.

Detectives said today the coroner had been notified of the death and Mr Kirkland’s next of kin had been informed.

Officers have issued a fresh plea for information from the public and anyone who can help is urged to call Telford police on 0300 333 3000.