THE discovery of a woman's body on a busy dual carriageway near the Forth Road Bridge was last night being investigated by police.

The woman, who has not yet been named by Lothian and Borders Police, was found lying at the side of the A90 Edinburgh-Forth Road Bridge road by a passing motorist.

The woman, who was in her 40s, is thought to have been struck by a vehicle as she walked along the roadway.

Police said the accident happened around 1am yesterday morning on the south-bound lane of the dual carriageway about 100 yards south of the Burnshot Flyover.

The incident happened close to the spot where a 40-year-old former Royal Engineer was killed 17 months ago when he was knocked off his bicycle as he went to his work as a local authority concierge.

The body of Mr Alan Linn, of South Queensferry, lay unnoticed for almost two hours on the south-bound verge of the road until daylight broke.

A 34-year-old lorry driver was later fined #850 and disqualified from driving for a year after pleading guilty to careless driving and knocking Mr Linn from his bike.

He also admitted failing to report the accident.

Yesterday, as officers investigated the latest accident on the A90, a police spokesman appealed for anyone travelling on the route around 1am yesterday or who had information that might identify the dead woman to contact them.

The spokesman described her as being 5ft to 5ft 2in and was wearing a black jacket and skirt, a white ribbed top, dark coloured tights and black high-heeled shoes.

She carried a black shoulder bag and also had rings on the second and middle fingers of both hands.