A body has been found hanging in woods by a child.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances into the death of Gary Sides who had travelled from Wrexham in Wales before killing himself at South Stanley Woods.

Erroneous rumours spread around South Stanley during the weekend that another man, still living in the area, had been found dead.

It is thought that the body of Mr Sides, which was found on Friday afternoon, was discovered by a ten-year-old boy although police could not confirm that today.

Police were already in the area at the time of the discovery after being told that a blue Metro car was blocking the entrance to the woods near a BMX course. The car turned out to be the property of Mr Sides.

Mr Sides, who was 27, set off from his home on Piercy Avenue in Marchwil, Wrexham, at 8am on Friday. The father of a 14-month-old daughter called at the home of his sister at Keswick road in South Stanley.

His sister had not been expecting her visit until next weekend. It is believed Mr Sides split from his wife recently. A post-mortem was due to be carried out yesterday and an inquest is due to open later this week.