Investigators probing the gruesome discovery of two bodies at a York bedsit believe a post-mortem examination could provide vital clues.

A Home Office pathologist has been brought in to examine the two unidentified adult bodies found at a Gillygate council flat.

Police said they are treating the mysterious deaths as "suspicious", but would not confirm if a murder inquiry has been launched.

Officers have so far been unable to establish the gender of either body, or what caused their deaths.

A squad of police officers spent several hours yesterday combing nearby streets, including sections of the city walls, for evidence.

Parked vehicles in Moat Court, which runs behind Gillygate, were also searched by officers, and street drains checked.

A York Police spokesman said: "Forensic scientists went into the premises earlier yesterday morning to examine the scene. Their work is detailed and intensive and inevitably this takes time.

"The examination is still in progress and the area around Gillygate remains cordoned off.

"We have still not identified the sex of the two bodies and that may not be resolved until we move them to the mortuary.

"The Home Office pathologist is still on the scene and it is anticipated that post mortem examinations will take place later today to ascertain the cause of death in each case."

Residents said they were shocked when a police officer, who had been called by a member of the public, discovered the bodies on Thursday at 4pm.

A City of York Council spokesman said staff had been called to the premises on Tuesday and contacted the police.

Staff at the Oven Gloves Bakery told the Evening Press that they had reported something dripping through their ceiling to the council on Tuesday.

The shop, which is underneath the flat, was closed yesterday and staff were interviewed by the police.

Updated: 09:30 Saturday, December 06, 2003