Police were called to a recycling plant in Bristol where human body parts were found.
Police were called to a recycling plant in Bristol where human body parts were found. Getty

Police have identified the body parts of a man found at a recycling plant in Bristol as Matthew Symonds from Swindon.

Avon and Somerset police officers were called to the Biffa depot in Avonmouth on Friday, after staff made the grisly discovery.

A police spokeswoman told the Press Association: "We were called at around 11am at Avonmouth.

"Employees at the site were concerned at what they thought were remains at one of the units.

"We cordoned the site off and are continuing our inquiries. I can confirm that it is believed to be a body of a man."

Police officials stated that his death was being treated as unexplained at present, but the body could have been transported with commercial waste collected in Swindon.

A post-mortem examination is due to be carried out later.

A police cordon is in place while forensic officers conduct investigations at the recycling plant.

Biffa is one of the UK's waste management companies, disposing rubbish from public sector organisations, commercial and industrial waste.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Bevan told BBC News that officers were "following several lines of inquiry" to establish the circumstances surrounding the man's death.

"Police inquiries so far suggest the body was transported with commercial recycling waste collected in Swindon and therefore the focus of the investigation will be in that area going forward."