THE man whose badly decomposed body was found in Moredon has been named as father-of-two Carl Francis Anderson.

Mr Anderson was discovered by schoolchildren last week in woodland off Akers Way.

His parents, speaking exclusively to the Advertiser, said their son never got over the breakdown of his marriage and died of a broken heart.

The 38-year-old was being treated for depression and had been living with his parents, Frank and Barbara, at their home in Elcombe Avenue, Wroughton, but disappeared in September last year with about £1,000 in his pocket.

He leaves two children Lewis, 12 and Laura, nine, who live with their mother in Newport, South Wales, four brothers and one sister.

His last words before leaving were "I'm going to shoot off now mum" but his parents never saw or spoke to him again.

Mr Anderson, 71, said: "He got divorced around four years ago after 17-years of marriage and it broke him in every way he died of a broken heart and never got over the divorce.

"We've got a large family and he could have come to anyone, but he didn't want our help, he didn't want to live anymore because he couldn't see the light at the end of the tunnel.

"He left with a considerable amount of money and we never heard anything of him again he didn't send his children a Christmas or birthday card."

Two seven-year-old boys playing in woodland off Akers Way on Sunday, February 29 discovered Mr Anderson's half-naked body under a hedge. A sleeping bag and a few items of clothing were found close by.

Police still have not been able to confirm how the former forklift driver died, but it is believed he suffered hypothermia. His body was so badly decomposed that at first detectives could not tell whether it was black or white.

Mr and Mrs Anderson, who are both taking antidepressants, read about the discovery of the body and appeal for information from friends and relatives in the Advertiser. They called police and provided DNA samples, which yesterday (Monday) matched their son's.

Mr Anderson registered his son as a missing person in October last year and police even told him Carl had been spotted in Victoria Hill.

He said: "We thought he would take a bed and breakfast or go to the Salvation Army, we certainly never thought he was living rough. I used to go out in my car and look for him.

"He seemed to think he was a failure and could never get over it. That's the unfortunate thing about depression we tried everything we could, but he didn't want to know.

"Carl was a handsome and kind man who could do anything and I never thought this would ever happen I thought his two children would have kept him alive.

"Since September I have lost nearly two stone in weight because I have been worrying about Carl. In one sense now we know, but it has been a terrible time.

"You don't expect to bury one of your children and there is no hand to hold or head to kiss goodbye."

Last week Home Office pathologist Dr Hew White conducted an inconclusive post-mortem and police are still awaiting details of a toxicology report, which will reveal how he died.

Giles Sheldrick