A dead body found in a communal bin is believed to be that of a 21-year-old woman, the Metropolitan Police says.

Emergency services were called by a member of the public to a block of flats in Granville Road, Child's Hill, at around 9am on Thursday (November 9).

An onlooker claims a body was found in communal bins, with a pink rucksack lying nearby.

Met officers and London Ambulance Service attended and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ham & High: Police investigating recycling bins inside which a woman's dead body was foundPolice investigating recycling bins inside which a woman's dead body was found (Image: SWNS)

Scotland Yard said the death is currently being treated as "unexpected and unexplained".

While formal identification is yet to take place, officers believe the deceased is a 21-year-old woman, they added.

Her next of kin have been informed.

A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

A passer-by who spotted the police investigation said: "The police were there checking life vitals and there was a backpack next to the bin with personal items in."

A picture from the scene, at the foot of a block called Harpenmead Point, shows a cordoned-off area with officers investigating.

A pink rucksack can be seen on top of one of the bins.

Police say a crime scene remains in place while enquiries continue.