A police investigation has been launched after a body was found in a wooded area near Erewash Canal, Ilkeston.

Footage from March 7 shows the scene cordoned off as forensic teams examined the area.

The filmer said: "The find happened as a woman who was caught short and needing a pee entered the wooded area looking for a quiet place to relieve herself.

"She was in the area after dropping her car off at a nearby garage and was told to have a wander down the canal and she would be called when the works were completed.

"The garage tried to call the woman once the work was completed but had no success. Three hours later the woman appeared at the garage completely white in the face and explained the entire ordeal she had just experienced.

"She had become desperate for a wee and had walked off the canal path into a wooded area to find somewhere private to have to relieve herself.

"In doing so she 'practically stood on the body' which she explained was in pieces and showed signs where animals had been at it."

Derbyshire Police released a statement: "At around 3 pm yesterday, Friday March 5, a call was received from a member of the public regarding a body near to a canal path in Ilkeston.

"On police arrival a body was found and investigations are ongoing to establish the identity and further details surrounding the death."

Police were called to a wooded area at around 3pm on the 5th March after receiving a call regarding the discovery of a body near to the Erewash Canal in Ilkeston. Mystery surrounded the incident which resembled scenes from a tv crime drama as police remained in the area for nearly a week after the find. Forensics and tactical support officers were seen looking through the wooded area whilst the investigations was ongoing.

It's now been confirmed that the find happened as a woman who was caught short and needing a pee entered the wooded area looking for a quiet place to relieve herself. She was in the area after dropping her car off at a nearby garage and was told to have a wonder down the canal and she would be called when the works were completed. The garage tried to call the woman once the work was completed but had no success. 3 hours later the woman appeared at the garage completely white in the face and explained the entire ordeal she had just experienced.

She had become desperate for a wee and had walked off the canal path into a wooded area to find somewhere private to have to relieve herself. In doing so she "practically stood on the body" which she explained was in pieces and showed signs where animals had been at it.

The woman who was in hysterics collected her car and has not been in touch with the garage since.

Formal identification has not yet been published and it is not known if the police are treating the incident as suspicious.