Detectives have appealed for help identifying a pensioner whose body was found in a bin bag in a park.

The woman, who was white and believed to be in her 70s, was found dead in Stanley Park, Liverpool, shortly before 17:30 BST on Friday. She was wearing a cerise pink Nike t-shirt and was described as about 5ft 2in (1.6m) tall, small build and with strawberry blonde hair.

Det Supt Rachel Wilson from Merseyside Police said it was "a shocking crime" and they believed the woman's body may have been left in the black bag at a walled garden for a number of weeks.

She said a post mortem examination took place on Saturday but the result had been withheld for investigation reasons.

Wilson said: "I want to take the opportunity to ask people to please consider whether you have any neighbours, family members or friends who live in the area, someone you may not have seen or heard from for a few weeks.

"Missing people reports in Merseyside and elsewhere have been checked but, so far, these have not resulted in an identification.

"Sometimes people go missing without those close to them realising, through holidays being planned or simple misunderstandings, and so we may not have received a report of any concerns."

She also appealed for anyone who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the Anfield area in recent weeks, regardless of whether they reported it or dismissed it as trivial at the time, to come forward.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Ryan said a mobile police station had been set up in Stanley Park to gather information.