POLICE are waiting to question a man airlifted to hospital after he was found in a house where a woman's body was discovered on Christmas Eve.

Officers from Durham Constabulary were called to the home in North View, Hunwick, between Bishop Auckland and Willington, County Durham at 11.25am on Monday (December 24) where they made the discovery.

The woman, who has not been formally identified, was declared dead at the scene. No details have been released about how she might have died and police today (December 25) refused to comment further on the incident.

The Great North Air Ambulance was also called to scene and it flew the injured man to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Again, the full extent of his injuries have not been revealed by police, but a spokesman said they were not thought to be life-threatening.

It is not known whether the man has been able to tell detectives anything about the incident yet, but the spokeswoman said: "Investigators will be hoping to speak to him at the earliest opportunity."

A police cordon was put up around the house which is in the centre of Hunwick, while initial investigations were carried out.

Arrangements are now being made to carry out a post-mortem on the woman, although police have not been able to say when the results will be obtained.

Neighbours spoke of their shock after the incident turned what is ordinarily a quiet terrace street into a major crime scene.

One householder, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's just so shocking, you don't expect these sorts of things in a place like Hunwick."

Another said: "The air ambulance landed on the school playing field, it has all been very dramatic and all our best wishes are with those affected."

More details are expected to be released by police tomorrow (December 26).