Police who recovered the body of an elderly man from the River Tees estuary, believe the pensioner went in the water further upstream.

The corpse, spotted near a jetty at Seal Sands, near Billingham, on Monday night, is having to be identified from finger prints. Cleveland Police are not treating the death as suspicious, but are appealing for the public's help.

The man, who was in his late 60s or early 70s had been wearing a black, bomber style jacket, beige trousers and shoes.

He is thought to have entered the river at Newport Bridge, Middlesbrough. Anyone who was in that area after 4pm on Monday is asked to ring Cleveland Police on (01642) 326326.