POLICE last night identified the body of a woman found lying on a frozen playing field.

She was 21 years old and from Brandon, near Durham City. Her full details are unlikely to be released until later today once all relatives have been informed.

Her body was found fully clothed, but without a coat, on the edge of woods behind Meadowfield Sports Centre, Brandon.

Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson said last night that the body had no obvious signs of injury.

Home Office pathologist Dr James Sunter attended the scene and later carried out a post mortem examination but was unable to determine an exact cause of death.

Further tests are now to be carried out at a forensic laboratory.

The discovery was made at 6.50am yesterday by a man walking his dog on the wide expanse of fields and woods separating the villages of Meadowfield and Brandon.

The woman was wearing a black dress top with a gold pin stripe effect, black jeans and white calf-length boots. Her dark three-quarter length coat was found nearby in the snow.

She had dark collar length hair, was 5ft 5ins and of medium build. Police believe she may have been at Durham, perhaps at a bus station in North Road, at about 6pm on Tuesday.

Police cordoned off a large area around the playing fields and carried out a detailed search. Officers made house-to-house enquiries.

The area, bordered by Brandon Cricket Club and Meadowfield Sports Centre, is popular with dog walkers and is a regular thoroughfare.

Anyone who may have seen the woman, either in Durham or walking across the playing fields, are asked to call Durham police on 0845 6060365.

* A murder-style inquiry is under way after the discovery of two bodies at a house in Tindall Street, Scarborough.

Police discovered the body of an elderly woman inside the front door and that of a younger man, who had facial injuries, upstairs.

Officers broke in at 9am yesterday after they were alerted by worried neighbours. The deaths are being treated as suspicious.

* Detectives were yesterday investigating a suspicious death after the body of a man in his 40s was found on Tuesday evening in a flat at Trent House, Margaret Street, York. Three men from the city have been arrested in connection with the incident.