In a shocking case, a father and son have been detained after being accused of beheading an ex-policeman and cannibalising his body.

Locals from the Ukranian town of Saltivka were horrified when they found a headless corpse dumped near a cellar doorway close to an apartment block.

Knife wounds to the body showed 'meat' had been sliced off the man.

Police later searched the apartment of a father and son - and found the head of the 45 year old former cop in a box stashed on the balcony.

The victim is understood to be a former policeman who went missing form home on 4 October and had last been seen later drinking in the company of two men.

Police sources say the ex-cop was killed by a stab wound to the neck.

The detained son - aged 20 - gave testimony that his father had sliced 'meat ' off the legs and ribs - and boiled it on his cooker. They then ate the cooked human flesh.

A formal murder investigation has been opened and if convicted, the men face from ten years to life in jail.