POLICE cordoned off a York street today after the shock discovery of a man's body.

An ambulance service spokesman said the body was found in St Stephen's Road, Acomb, at about 5.35am.

Police sealed off the street and detectives and crime scene investigators were busy examining the scene for clues this morning.

The grim discovery was made by a taxi driver who was taking a young woman home from a party.

While the pair were travelling along St Stephen's Road he said the two of them spotted what looked like "a bundle of rags" in the road.

The taxi driver, Ken Day, said: "When I got a bit nearer I saw a leg stuck out. He was crumpled up. We pulled up and tried to wake him, his head was in a grate."

The woman passenger felt for a pulse, but could not find one.

The body, believed to be that of a young man in his 20s, was taken to York Hospital by ambulance crews.

Mr Day said a neighbour called the ambulance service and came out of her house to put a dressing gown over the body.

He said he believed that paramedics pronounced the man dead at the scene, though this has not been officially confirmed.

He said: "I'm feeling really upset at finding a young lad."

Mr Day said his passenger, who was from Acomb, had also been "very upset" by the appalling find.

Inspector Alisdair Dey of York Police said: "We are containing the scene at the moment. It's an investigation at this time."

He said it was not known how long the road would be cordoned off for.

A York Police spokesman told the Evening Press that a member of the public had called the police early this morning about the discovery.

"It is still early stages. Police are still making inquiries into what has happened." A member of staff at Cornlands Road News, which opened its doors early this morning, said: "I heard about it at about 6.15am. We were open by then. As far as I know it was a lad. People coming in are talking about it. It is a shock."

News of the discovery spread to neighbouring streets and other shops in the area including The Stop Gap in nearby Gale Lane which opened at 6.30am.

"A customer came in who had heard about it," said Mr Johnson.

"We have not had it confirmed though. I have had a look down the street, but it must be at the top end because I couldn't see anything. No-one really knows what happened. Word is spreading slowly."

Local resident John Barker said he was taking his dog for its usual morning walk when he was turned back by officers. He said: "You never usually see anything round here. It's a shock."

Police are asking anyone with any information to phone them on 0845 6060 247.

Updated: 10:05 Saturday, April 02, 2005