A MAN found dead in a field near Selby had recently been arrested in connection with an investigation into indecent assaults on children.

The badly burnt body of Harvey Graham Trigg, of Portholme Drive, Selby, was found in a field near Wistow Road at about 1.10pm on Saturday.

A police spokesman said the 61-year-old had been arrested on January 18 over allegations of indecent assaults on children. He was released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Due to Mr Trigg being arrested so near his death, the incident is being looked into by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Police are not looking for anyone else in connection with his death.

Neighbours today described Mr Trigg, who is believed to have had two daughters, as a quiet man, who had appeared lonely following the recent death of his wife.

Yvonne Grassam, of Portholme Drive, said she had only known him as a neighbour, but was shocked to hear of his death.

"He was a very nice man," she said. "He was lonely because he had lost his wife recently.

"It's very, very sad - he must have been very lonely." Ms Grassam said she believed Mr Trigg had retired a year ago.

Another neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "He was a pleasant bloke - I didn't really know him well. He kept himself to himself."

A next door neighbour, who asked not to be named, said: "He was all right. He used to do odd jobs for me."

Mr Trigg had been a member of the gym at Park Inn Hotel, in North Street, York, and attended regularly.

Manager Angela MacMillan said: "He came in to do classes. He was a nice guy - we were shocked and sad to hear what happened."

Emergency services swooped on a field off Monk Lane, beside the B1223 Selby to Cawood Road, after Mr Trigg seemingly set himself alight in an apparent suicide.

The scene was sealed off for several hours as police investigated. Firefighters were called and all surrounding roads closed until after 6pm. A police helicopter was deployed as officers swept the scene.

Jimmy Lund had to cross the police blockades to get to his farm.

He said police had told him only that a "major incident" was going on.

One local resident said: "I wondered what the police were doing.

"Nothing like that has ever happened here.

"At first, when I saw the helicopter I thought they may be searching for someone who was missing, but I heard later a body had been found."

Another said: "Nobody has told us anything at all. We thought police might have asked if we had seen anything, but we had not."