'Strychnine poison' killed mystery man on Saddleworth Moor

The man was captured on CCTV at Manchester's Piccadilly railway station on 11 December

A mystery man found dead on Saddleworth Moor died of "strychnine poisoning," police have confirmed.

The man, aged between 65 and 75, was found fully clothed near Dove Stone Reservoir, Oldham on 12 December, 2015.

The day before, he had gone into a pub and asked the way to "the top of the mountain" after travelling by train from London to Manchester.

Toxicology reports found traces of strychnine poison but police say they still do not know who the man is.

Strychnine is now used primarily as a pesticide, particularly to kill rats.

The man was found dead on a hill near Dove Stone Reservoir near a hill known as Indian's Head

Greater Manchester Police said no wallet, mobile phone or other identification was present when the man's body was discovered by a cyclist. Their investigation is on-going.

A spokeswoman said: "The cause of death is provisionally strychnine poisoning pending confirmation by the coroner at [the] inquest."

The man had £130 in cash and three train tickets, including a return to London Euston, in his pocket.

In January, police released CCTV images of the man in the hope somebody would be able to identify him.

He arrived at Ealing Broadway just after 09:00 GMT on 11 December and was next picked up by CCTV at 09:50 at Euston, buying a return ticket to Manchester Piccadilly.

After arriving in Manchester at 12:07, he spent 53 minutes wandering around the station before heading into the city centre.

He went into The Clarence pub in Greenfield and asked how to get to "the top of the mountain"

The next sighting was at the Clarence pub in Greenfield, Saddleworth, where he asked the landlord how he could get to the top of the hill.

Police describe the man as white, of slim build, with a receding hairline with grey hair to the side and back.

He had a large nose that may have been previously broken, and was clean shaven.

He wore a brown heavy jacket, blue jumper, white long-sleeve shirt, blue corduroy trousers and black slip-on shoes.

What is strychnine?

A strychnine molecule

• Strychnine is a white, odourless, bitter crystalline powder that is most commonly used as a pesticide

• It is a strong poison; only a small amount is needed to produce severe effects, including death

• The primary natural source of strychnine is the plant Strychnos nux-vomica, found in southern Asia and Australia

• In the past, strychnine was available in pill form and was used to treat many human ailments