A TEAM of investigators are appealing for information from local residents which could help them identify the body of a man that was found in woods near Cinderford nearly 40 years ago.

Volunteers from community interest company Locate International (LI) are attempting to solve the decades-old mystery of the decomposed body known only as ’Cinderford man’, which was found near Yew Tree Brake off of the Cinderford to Speech House Road on September 16, 1984.

The body of the man was found by dog walkers Greg Jones and Fiona Slade, nee Russell, who were on the lookout for mushrooms when they found a leg, which they initially though was that of an animal.

Around 30 yards further on, they discovered the man’s pelvis and then a skull.

At the time, the skeleton of the man could not be identified, but a 85mm bone-handled penknife was found on his person with ’M.Tucker’, or ’MJT’ according to other sources, scratched into the handle.

LI researchers have identified a Mr M Tucker on the missing persons database, but he has been ruled out as a possible match.

The group, which was formed just two years ago, say the name could still provide a clue to the man’s identity.

They believe they have a realistic chance of solving the mystery, having chosen to firstly investigate cases in which names or partial names of the deceased are known.

The group of retired detectives, forensic psychologists and expert researchers are aiming to match more than 1,000 unidentified bodies with nearly 5,000 long term missing people in the UK.

The team of volunteer researchers, who provide their services free of charge for the families of those involved, say it is an "absolute scandal" that so many bodies remain unidentified.

They are appealing to local residents who remember the ’Cinderford man’ case and may be able to provide key information.

Tests showed that the man was aged between 25 and 30, had short brown hair and was around 5’10 in height and of average build.

He was found wearing a green jumper, cream and brown shirt with 15.5 collar, trousers with a 34" waist and 32" inside leg, brown socks and brown size 10 suede shoes.

He was also wearing pyjama bottoms underneath his trousers, which ramblers say was common at the time to ward off ticks.

A red nylon rucksack was also found, containing an ordinance survey map, plastic bottle of lemon squash and insect repellant, which has led researchers to suggest he was in the forest for a weekend walk.

Also in the rucksack was an orange flannel, scissors, toothpaste and Sunbeam electric razor with light socket adaptor, which the group says implies he was visiting the Forest from elsewhere.

The rucksack also contained a Papermate pen, plastic comb, magnifying glass, two toothbrushes and a Swiss-made travel alarm clock and leather case.

The researchers say that as no watch was found with body, he may have been using the alarm clock to ensure he was on time, perhaps to catch a bus.

The team have speculated that if he could afford items associated with hiking and travel, the purpose of his walk was for leisure, as opposed to being homeless, and suggest that if that were the case, his disappearance would likely have been noticed by his friends, family members or neighbours.

His wallet was not found, but he did have on his possession a "security cabinet type key with circular barrel and red plastic tab", which was found to be neither a car nor house key.

The investigators believe it may have been for a left storage locker.

They want to know if anyone has any knowledge of a left storage facility having existed in Cinderford or the surrounding areas, perhaps at a local bus station.

They say that although if any such facility did exist, it has probably long closed, they may be able to find an inventory of items found inside the lockers when they were cleared, such as the man’s wallet or an overnight bag.

LI researchers are still waiting on a coroner’s report for the case, which the coroner says has been archived, to investigate further how the man may have died, which at this point remains unknown.

But they say that the body’s decomposed state, and the fact that the man had a 20p piece on his person which was first introduced in June 1982, suggest that the body had been there for between six and 27 months before it was found.

Interestingly, the researchers say that Greg, now a semi-retired outdoor instructor who lives in Ross-on-Wye, claims a bus ticket was also found with the body, but that detail was not included in any reports about the case at the time.

He also said he remembers attending both the opening and closing of a police inquest for the case, which were held 10 years apart, but the researchers say they have found nothing to suggest that a police investigation was active for the duration of that period.

LI also want to hear from residents about whether the location of the body was a regular walking route at that time.

Anyone who may have information about the case is encouraged to email Locate International at [email protected].