The mystery of a human skeleton found in a dense forest more than four months ago is still unsolved, say police.

After its discovery by a walker in Langdale Forest, north of Thornton-le-Dale, on April 30 a major investigation was mounted by North Yorkshire Police carrying out detailed tests, including DNA comparisons.

Forensic analysis has been carried out on the remains of the body, which is thought to be that of a man of about 5ft 8ins in height with two gold teeth.

A spokesman for Scarborough police said: "We are still awaiting the results of forensic tests, which we had hoped to have had in July."

A short-list of potential victims has been drawn up.

The remains were discovered lying near a tent and camping equipment in the forest and there was speculation that the man could have been a drop-out from society.

One clue the police have been given is that a group of walkers had reported seeing a man in the forest in 1990 and he had told them he had decided to quit society and to live, with his dog, in a tent in the woods. The Forestry Commission was alerted and gave permission for the man to remain living in the woods.

Police have since checked national records of missing people going back two decades. The spokesman said that once the results of the DNA and forensic tests were known they believed they would be able to identify the man.