UK POLICE HAVE launched a public appeal to help identify 20 bodies discovered on Britain’s rail network over the last 35 years.

None of the deceased is believed to have been the victim of foul play, and police are hoping that by releasing artist’s sketches they may locate relatives who can identify them.

Of 44 bodies found throughout England, Scotland and Wales, the police are releasing an artist’s impressions of 20 which were found in the London area.

The National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA), which is behind the project, is being cut as part of the government’s saving scheme.

The NPIA’s chief executive, said that the organisation was the centre of expertise for the police in cases of missing persons, of which there are about 1,000:

There are around 1,000 cases of unidentified bodies across the country, dating back more than 50 years. Behind every case will be a family or friend who perhaps wants to know what happened to their loved one or bring closure to a mystery.

The picture accompanying this article is one of the 20 artist’s sketches of rail victims.

The police have released the following details: He is a man struck by a train at Mile End Tube station, London on 08/05/1975.  He is white, 45-50 years old, approximately 6’0’’ with black, receding hair and false teeth.

He was wearing a navy blue blazer with yellow metal embossed buttons, a light blue shirt, blue trousers and black leather shoes (size 7).  He also had a metal wristwatch engraved “Tudor Oyster”.