An appeal has been launched to try and identify a man who died on a railway embankment over 30 years ago.

The man was found hanging from a tree near railway lines in 1991 and detectives have not been able to find his name or his loved ones.

Now, police officers have released an e-fit image of the man.

British Transport Police Detective Chief Inspector Sam Blackburn said: “It is always a tragedy when anyone dies alone, and in unfamiliar and dangerous circumstances, and even more so when they have no apparent family or friends who are aware of their whereabouts - or indeed that they have died.

“There was nothing suspicious in this death but despite significant enquiries at the time his identity remains unconfirmed.

The Argus: An e-fit image of the manAn e-fit image of the man (Image: British Transport Police)

“We really hope by sharing this artist's impression we can identify families and friends and give someone somewhere who is grieving the much-needed closure that they deserve.”

Officers say that the man’s body was found on July 26, 1991, just south of the Ouse Valley Viaduct between Balcombe and Haywards Heath.

The man is described as white and aged between 19 and 25. He was roughly 5 ft 10 inches, weighing 80kg and had dark brown curly hair and brown eyes.

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He was found wearing blue denim jeans and a blue denim jacket, a mauve polo neck sweater, a grey shirt, blue t-shirt, white socks and brown walking shoes. He also had a red and blue waterproof jacket.

The man was found with a personal stereo, two Beverley Craven tapes, a brown wallet, a blue Mickey Mouse rucksack and 20 “Kool” cigarettes. He also had a British tourist map of London, £52 in cash and a Woolwich Building Society pen.

He is buried in St Peter’s Church in Ardingly.

The renewed appeal comes as part of four artist’s impressions released for an episode of BBC’s Crimewatch today.