Leicestershire Police believe a man who was found dead in a hedge on Burton Road in Ashby was the victim of a hit and run driver.

After being reported missing on Sunday evening, following a night out in Ashby town centre, Tommy Hunter, from Newhall, was walking home in the early hours.

It was near the junction with Annwell Lane that the 27-year-old was found just after 8.30am today (Monday).

The road was closed to traffic so that East Midlands Ambulance Service and Leicestershire Police could deal with the incident.

Now, police are appealing for witnesses to what happened, sometime between 2.30am-3.30am in the early hours of Sunday.

A spokesperson for Leicestershire Police said: "Detectives are continuing their investigations after a non-stop collision in Ashby resulted in the death of a man.

"Just after 8.30am today (Monday 11 December) a man was found injured in some hedges on Burton Road.

"East Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the scene, who confirmed the man was deceased.

"The road between the roundabout to the A511 and junction with Rushey Close, Spring Avenue and Anwell Lane was closed while those enquiries were conducted. The road has since been opened.

Tommy Hunter was found dead on Monday morning. Photo: Derbyshire Constabulary

"It's believed the deceased was walking along Burton Road towards Boundary, Derbyshire, sometime between 2.30am and 3.30am on Sunday (10 December) when he was involved in a collision with a vehicle, which failed to stop at the scene.

"On Sunday evening a man was reported missing to Derbyshire Constabulary and it's believed the deceased may be missing man, Thomas Hunter. Formal identification is yet to take place. The force is liaising with Derbyshire Constabulary.

"Enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the collision are continuing.

"Officers would like to speak to anyone who may have been driving along Burton Road during the early hours of Sunday morning and may have witnessed the incident.

"Also, if anyone has dashcam equipment installed on their vehicles we would ask that they check the footage and get in touch if they captured anything that may assist them.

"If anyone has any information they are asked to contact PC 212 Suki Sahota on 101 or via www.leics.police.uk, quoting incident 133 of 11 December."