A body has been discovered inside a burning car next to a commercial centre in Murcia.

The grim discovery was made on Tuesday morning in Camposol, a popular expat residential area in Mazarron.

Firefighters found the remains after extinguishing the blaze that had engulfed the vehicle.

The person has not been identified and their nationality is unknown.

Two butane cylinders were also found inside the vehicle, according to sources close to the investigation cited by La Verdad.

Emergency services received several calls about the fire at around 10.40am. The car was parked in a secluded section of the shopping area’s car park.

Fire crews attended alongside Policia Local and Civil Protection personnel, extinguishing the flames by 11.01am.

After discovering the body, emergency workers alerted the Guardia Civil, whose judicial police unit has opened an investigation.

Specialists examined the vehicle and surrounding area to establish how the fire started and the circumstances of the death.

One gas cylinder was reportedly on the front passenger seat and the other in the rear. Investigators are examining their possible connection to the blaze.

The investigation continues.