Police are not treating as suspicious the death of a Hartlepool man whose body was found in a quiet walkway on Wednesday evening.

It was around 6.30pm when officers found the body of 33-year-old Michael Bruce hanging from a tree on the Castle Eden Walkway at a point where it meets the A689 on the Durham/Cleveland border.

Mr Bruce's Ford Mondeo vehicle was found a short distance away in a car park at the beauty spot.

A police doctor confirmed him dead at the scene and the body was taken to Bishop Auckland General Hospital.

The coroner has been informed of the death and an inquest on Mr Bruce, who lived in Kesteven Road in Hartlepool, is expected to open in the next few days.

A police spokesman said there were no suspicious circumstances.