UK police
British holidaymaker found dead in eastern France near to Formule Hotel in Dole where he was staying with his wife Reuters

A British tourist is believed to have been murdered after his body was found in a warehouse car park in France, police have said.

The man in his fifties, who has not been identified, had a large head wound and was found in a pool of blood.

His body was discovered in the forecourt of a warehouse near to the budget Formule 1 Hotel on the Epenottes industrial estate in Dole, near Dijon, according to Europe 1 radio.

He was due to spend Saturday night (25 October) with his wife and friend but had gone out "to meet someone".

"He did not return", said a police spokesman, who said it was initially believed "he had been murdered".

His wife was informed on Sunday and a post-mortem is due to take place on 27 October.

The couple were on their way back to the UK from Italy after stopping off in Dole.