POLICE have named a man found dead in woodland near his North-East home.

He was Victor Warrington, 50, of Russell Street, Waterhouses, near Durham City.

Yesterday, police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

He was reported missing by his partner on Sunday evening when he failed to return from a walk in the woods.

Police carried out a limited search until darkness fell. The search was resumed on Monday morning, backed by 15 volunteer members of the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team, and the police helicopter.

His body was found in the middle of the afternoon.

A police spokesman said a post-mortem examination would be carried out and an inquest opened this week