INVESTIGATIONS are being carried out after a middle-aged man's body was found near a popular tourist attraction on the outskirts of Taunton.

Paul Wayne James, 51, was discovered in woods at Pitchers Hill, Cheddon Fitzpaine, near Hestercombe Gardens, on August 21.

Police have handed a report to the Somerset's senior coroner Tony Williams, who opened and adjourned an inquest last Wednesday into Mr James's death.

An interim post mortem report into Mr James's sudden death was prepared ahead of the hearing.

Mr Williams will hold an internal case management review on or before December 9.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: "We were called on Friday 21 August following the sudden death of a man in his 50s in Cheddon Fitzpaine.

"The death is not considered to be suspicious and has been referred to the coroner."

Mr James, who previously lived in George Street, Taunton, but was more recently of no fixed address, had been in and out of prison in recent years for a number of frauds.

He was found guilty of posing as a stranded hitch hiker and preying on his victims' good nature to lend him money to 'get home', which he never repaid.

He carried out his scams in Somerset and Dorset and also on the M4.

There is support at hand for people who feel they need it:

The Samaritans can be contacted on the free national number 116123, or e-mail jo@samaritans.org or alternatively contact Somerset CRUSE bereavement on 01458-898211 or e-mail somerset@cruse.org.uk