A MAN’S body was found at a Bournemouth beauty spot yesterday morning with reports a firearm may have been involved.

Police were called to grassland near Solent Beach car park at Hengistbury Head around 6.20am on Tuesday morning after a member of the public discovered the body.

The Daily Echo understands a gun may have been involved in the death but a police spokesperson said they were unable to confirm or deny this.

Officers are not treating the death as suspicious.

The area around Hengistbury Head was busy on Monday night, with crowds of people attempting to see the Perseids meteor shower, residents said.

Yesterday morning, police put up a cordon surrounding the body until it was removed from the scene.

Police officers were also seen removing two bags from near to where the man was found.

A red Citroen car was recovered from the adjacent car park, although police were unable to confirm whether this was linked to the incident.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police confirmed a man in his 30s had been found dead.

"The report was received from a member of the public at around 6.20am”, they said.

"Next of kin have been informed as well as the coroner.

"Dorset Police is not treating this death as suspicious.”

A post mortem is due to take place today.

Dog walkers and joggers said they were shocked to see the police activity in a normally peaceful area.

Resident John Reeves, whose house overlooks Hengistbury Head, said his neighbour phoned to tell him about the cordon.

“There were a lot of people and a lot of noise on Monday night – we assumed it was people coming to look for the meteor shower.

“It is very unusual; we never see anything like this. I didn’t hear anything at all overnight.”

Fellow resident, Margaret Stubbs said: “I woke up this morning and I thought I saw an ambulance.

“The dog was going wild and I thought ‘What’s going on?’ and looked out and saw the police officer on the bank.

“I went out and that’s when they were bringing a body bag down. The police left soon after.”