A WOMAN whose body was found in a dumped suitcase on a country road near York had been bound and gagged, police revealed today.

The woman appeared to be of Asian or Oriental origin and aged between 20 and 40, said Det Chief Insp Alan Ankers, who is leading the inquiry following the gruesome discovery on a road near Askham Richard on Sunday.

Her face and wrists were bound with tape and she was partially clothed.

Her body was intact and there were no visible signs of injury.

A post mortem has proved inconclusive as to the cause of death, and further forensic tests will now be carried out which might take some weeks.

Asked if the find was being treated as a murder inquiry, DCI Ankers told a press conference: "We have a female who has been dumped in a country lane. She's bound and gagged and in a suitcase. Clearly we will treat this as a serious incident."

He indicated that there had been some deterioration of the body and said he believed the case may have been there since the first week in November.

He appealed for anybody with any information which could help in the inquiry to contact a special incident room on 01904 618618.

He appealed especially to local people in the Askham Richard, Bilbrough and Askham Bryan area who may have walked, ridden or driven past the spot, and who may have seen the case.

"I cannot overemphasise the importance of people contacting us with information that can assists this investigation," he said.

A team of about a dozen police officers wearing protective forensic suits were carrying out a finger-tip search of the scene today. They are expected to be there for at least the next couple of days.

DCI Ankers said that a local man had discovered the rigid silver grey case at the bottom of a hedgerow at 4pm on Sunday.

He tried to lift it but found it extremely heavy and contacted police although, it was said, there had been nothing else to arouse his suspicions.

A police officer sent out to investigate partially opened the case and saw what he thought was part of a human body. He immediately decided to leave the case alone while the area was cordoned off and a full investigation launched.

The case was taken to York District Hospital mortuary where great care was taken to preserve the evidence before the case was eventually opened.

The woman was 4ft 11in tall and slender, with brown eyes and shoulder-length dark hair. She had pierced ears but was not wearing studs or earrings, and was wearing plastic contact lenses.

He said the rigid silver-grey case had wheels and an extending handle, and measured 72 cms by 50 cms by 29 cms.

Meanwhile, villagers have spoken of their shock and horror at the find.

Sam Esler, chairman of Bilbrough Parish Council, said: "What can I say? My reaction is one of shock that this area should be involved in a situation like this."

He did not think many villagers would have walked along the road where the body was found because traffic was so heavy nowadays.

Jane Steward, chairman of Askham Richard Parish Council, said villagers had reacted with "absolute horror" to the news.

"Villagers are just completely shocked. It's a very quiet village normally."

Ian Simmonds, governor of Askham Grange Jail at Askham Richard, said he had checked no one was missing at the women's open prison since hearing news of the discovery.

All were accounted for including those temporarily away from the jail.

He said some of the prisoners sometimes walked down the road where the body was found, for example to get to work, and he would ensure that if anyone had seen or heard anything unusual, the information was passed on to the police.

One villager at Askham Richard said she had cried after hearing news of the grim discovery just across the fields from the village. "I can't believe this should happen virtually on your doorstep, " she said.

Updated: 11:54 Tuesday, November 20, 2001