Detectives investigating the murder of a man whose headless body was found in undergrowth 20 years ago believe he was from an area around southern Germany and was dressed in the clothes he was found in after he died.

A murder inquiry was launched after the body was discovered in Broxmead Lane, Bolney, near Haywards Heath, on October 11, 1991, but neither the victim's identity nor that of his potential killer has ever been established.

Today, 20 years since he was found, Sussex Police released further information after exhuming his body in the hope that technological advances made since the 1990s would help provide a breakthrough.

Tests on one of his femurs along with analysis of samples of rib bone and toenails have revealed that he is likely to have originated from an area of Europe encompassing southern Germany or countries nearby.

Analysis of his toenails suggested he spent the last year or so of his life in the UK or on the French/German border, police added.

Information gathered over the last year has also led detectives to believe that the man was dressed after death in the shirt and trousers he was found in, and that the clothes belonged to someone else.

Detective Superintendent Andy Griffiths said: "This is still an unresolved murder investigation and we will follow up any new lines of inquiry.

"Progress is often slow on cases such as this but, over the last year, information we have gathered now leads us to believe that the man was dressed after death in the shirt and trousers in which he was found, and that those clothes belonged to someone else.

"We are also continuing to focus our inquiries in southern Germany and working with colleagues from police forces in that area."

It was already known that the victim was a white male who was circumcised, had a small distinguishing star-shaped mole on his right thigh and had a protruding belly, but the second examination of the remains also revealed he was aged between 30 and 40, but most likely in his mid to late 30s when he died.

He was approximately 5ft 6in to 5ft 8in and was strongly built on his upper body.

His remains, with his head and hands removed, were discovered by a member of the public in woodland off Broxmead Lane in Bolney.

Despite extensive appeals for information, the man went to his grave at Western Road Cemetery in Haywards Heath in August 1994 with police clueless about his identity, his coffin bearing the words "Unknown male".

Mr Griffiths added: "We are committed to identifying the victim, establishing what happened to him, and bringing the offenders to justice if at all possible.

"We will always do everything we can to ensure that happens."

Anyone with information on the man, offenders or witnesses are asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999, quoting Operation Curzon, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.