A Shropshire man who died after being found near a canal was discovered partially clothed at the foot of a tree, police today revealed.

Kevin Kirkland, 44, was found close to death by two passers-by near Newport Canal just after 8am last Wednesday. He died less than an hour later at Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

No cause of death has yet been established but it is believed police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the death, which they are treating as “unexplained”.

Telford police spokesman Chris Ammonds today said: “The investigation is ongoing to establish exactly the circumstances leading up to the discovery of Mr Kirkland’s body.

“We can confirm that he was found partially clothed at the foot of a tree but we do not feel it’s right to go into any further details at the present time ahead of any inquest opening.”

Mr Kirkland lived alone in Newport and was a service engineer with IT firm Synnex based on Stafford Park, Telford.

Staff at Synnex, where he worked for 15 years, returned to work today to be told of their colleague’s death.

David Jones, human resources manager at the firm, said staff were devastated by the news.

He said: “It has been a very difficult morning for us. We are absolutely devastated, not only in the UK but we have spoken to our offices in Taiwan and America, and everyone knew him.

“He worked in a department of only four people and they have been hit hardest. We are missing him already.”