A Fife man found dead in a village cemetery may have frozen to death amid whiteout conditions.
The 22-year-old man, named locally as James Adamson of Methil, was discovered on a footpath near MacDuff Cemetery in East Wemyss on Monday afternoon.
It is understood he may have been a victim of the severe weather, although a post-mortem examination will be carried out to confirm the exact cause of death.
Fife Constabulary has ruled out foul play, quashing rumours circulating in the community that the dead man may have been attacked beforehand.
Detective Inspector Graham Fenton said: “We are treating this death as unexplained while waiting for the results of a post-mortem medical examination. However, there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.
“No one has been arrested and we are not currently looking for anyone. However, the area in which the man was found is popular with dog walkers and I would appeal for anyone who was in the vicinity on Monday morning to contact us.”
Yesterday, a police van remained in place on the path where Mr Adamson’s body was found, while officers were reported to have been knocking on doors in the area of William Street as they continued their inquiries.
The discovery was made at the height of Monday’s storms, when driving sleet and snow was covering much of Fife.
With temperatures struggling to reach above freezing, it is believed Mr Adamson may have succumbed to the harsh conditions.
Anyone with information regarding Mr Adamson’s death is asked to contact Fife Constabulary on 0845 600 5702 or to contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.