A BODY has been found in a town centre park.

The discovery in Darlington was made around 9.20am on Thursday morning.

Emergency services were called to the river at Parkside, South Park, where the man found was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokeswoman for Durham Police said: “At approximately 9.20am this morning we received reports of a body having been discovered in the River Skerne, at Parkside, Darlington.

“Emergency services attended, but sadly the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“We are currently treating this death as unexplained. A post mortem and formal identification of the man has not yet been carried out."

An area of Parkside was sealed off by police, with people asked to leave the scene around the riverbank and main entrance to South Park while officers worked at the site