INVESTIGATIONS are continuing following the discovery of what is believed to be part of an arm over the weekend The body part was found at around midday on Sunday by walkers in Drovers Lane, Wheathampstead – a week after a severed leg was found in Cottere

INVESTIGATIONS are continuing following the discovery of what is believed to be part of an arm over the weekend

The body part was found at around midday on Sunday by walkers in Drovers Lane, Wheathampstead - a week after a severed leg was found in Cottered near Baldock.

Police believe that the two finds are linked but are currently in the process of carrying out DNA tests to confirm that the body parts are from the same person.

The arm was discovered lying on the grass verge without any clothing, and was not contained in anything.

A full DNA profile has been gathered from the leg, which was found in a green holdall by a lay-by, but there was no match on the National DNA Database.

The leg came from an adult man, believed to be between 5ft 6ins and 5 ft 10ins tall with a shoe size between a seven and a nine. The victim also had a skin condition which has caused discolouration in the pigmentation around the ankle and there was a further skin condition on the lower leg causing it to scale.

His ethnicity is still unconfirmed but he is believed to be white or Asian.

Detective Chief Inspector Mick Hanlon said: "It is highly likely to be linked to the leg discovered in Cottered last Sunday but we will not have definitive confirmation until more tests have been carried out."

He continued: "This is a very unusual incident and we are working meticulously to establish whom the body parts belong to and how they came to be in Cottered and Wheathampstead."

The police are appealing for any witnesses who used Drovers Lane from 10pm on Friday as well as anyone who saw any suspicious behaviour in the Nomansland area.

Inspector Hanlon added: "We are conducting a number of inquiries including area searches and are continuing to check missing person records to make sure we leave no stone unturned.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room on 01707 354432, or to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.