US authorities have launched a criminal investigation after exhuming the body of a man rumoured to have had his legs severed to fit into his coffin.

Officials in Allendale, South Carolina, would not reveal exactly what they discovered after removing the lid of James Hines's coffin on Wednesday.

But coroner Hayzen Black described it as "undesirable evidence".

A former employee of the funeral home that buried 6ft 5in Mr Hines in 2004 contacted police, US media report.

Mr Black said the new evidence had been turned over to state and local law enforcement.

He told a local TV station that officials "had found some causes for further investigation".

Mr Black said there had long been rumours that Mr Hines's legs had been cut to fit the coffin for which he had paid.

'Heart wrenching'

Mr Hines is described as a minister at the Revelations Ministries church. His grave is in the cemetery behind the church.

"It's heart-wrenching," church spokeswomen Rachel Jones told NBC Augusta. "If something has happened, justice needs to be done."

She added: "There's nothing bad you can say about James Hines. Everyone knew him as this huge, lovable man who was devoted to the church, his family and the community."

Mr Hines's body has now been reburied in a different coffin.

The funeral home that buried Mr Hines has declined to comment, the Associate Press news agency reported.