A man's body was found hidden in bushes in south east London last night as police recovered a gun nearby.

Mystery surrounds the victim's death after his body was found by police on Sydenham Hill at about 8pm yesterday.

Paramedics were called to the road soon afterwards but pronounced the man dead at the scene, Scotland Yard said today.

#Sydenham: Police were called yesterday to an unresponsive male in bushes. LAS also responded. A male was found and sadly pronounced dead. — MPS Southwark (@MPSSouthwark) August 22, 2015

Murder squad detectives were today investigating how he died and were in the process of informing his next of kin.

Detective Chief Inspector Cliff Lyons of the Homicide and Major Crime Command was said to be leading the investigation.

A Met police spokesman said: "A post mortem examination will be scheduled in due course. The death is currently being treated as unexplained.

"There have been no arrests. Our enquiries are ongoing."

The road was closed while police investigated at the scene this morning.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101.