ARMCHAIR detectives across the county will have the chance to leave the living room behind as they delve into a murder mystery experience in Witney.

Would-be investigators are invited to Cogges Manor Farm on Friday evening for CSI Cogges – which will see them try to find out what happened to a farmhand found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Those taking part will be able to examine blood and finger prints to get to the bottom of the case – which is like something straight out of TV series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation or BBC's Sherlock.

Not-for-profit organisation Science Oxford, in partnership with the historic manor farm, will host the special event, which starts with the ‘discovery’ of the farmhand’s broken body lying beneath an open window.

Groups of amateur super-sleuths will take on a variety of forensic challenges, using modern day techniques like chemical analysis, blood-spatter examination, finger-printing and fibre analysis.

They will gather their own evidence samples from around the Cogges grounds and perform lab tests to see how much of the truth science can unearth.

As they work their way through the various tasks, the truth behind the grizzly death of the farmhand – and whether she was pushed or jumped – will begin to become clear.

Luiza Patorksi, Science Oxford’s event manager, said: “When our budding detectives arrive, they’ll be given an evidence collection kit that includes sample pots, evidence bags and forensic gloves.

“They’ll also be given some background information on the discovery of the body and a list of suspects.

“It’s then time to explore the manor house and look for clues.

"Once they have collected all the evidence samples, they’ll be going back to the forensics lab to process their evidence and work out exactly what happened to the poor farmhand.”

There will be prizes for everyone who solves the mystery and the chance to enter a prize draw to win coveted tickets to Science Oxford’s November event with astronaut Scott Kelly.

CSI Cogges is a way for people to get involved with some of the scientific processes involved in forensic analysis as well as exploring the historic manor house and grounds after dark.

Colin Shone, director of Cogges, said: “Cogges has been around for more than 1,000 years.

"It’s our job as custodians of the site to unlock the stories of the people who have lived and worked the land here and solve the mysteries of what life might have been like.

"Science Oxford will be bringing a new perspective on this, inviting members of the public to join in for what promises to be a really unusual and interesting evening."

Tickets for CSI Cogges are £13. Doors open at 7pm.

Book tickets by going to scienceoxford.com/events/csi-cogges-forensic-challenge