MYSTERY still surrounds the identity of a man who died in a train accident nine days ago.

Police are now hoping two women from Darlington, who were seen with the man shortly before he died, may be able to help them with inquiries.

The young man, who was dressed in a smart, black pin-striped suit, fell to his death under the wheels of a freight train in the early hours of December 22 at Newcastle Central Station.

Police are appealing to people across the North-East - and in particular to the two women from Darlington - to get in touch so they can trace the man's relatives.

The man was about 25 and had four tattoos. He did not have identification on him.

British Transport Police (BTP) have spent the past week trying to find out who he is and have searched lists of missing people from across the country.

Police said it was extremely unusual for someone not to have been identified by this time.

PC Steve Smith, of the BTP, said: "We believe he may have come into the station to catch the 2.10am, which goes through Durham and Darlington on the way to Manchester Airport. For some reason, he did not get it and the accident happened later on.

"He was seen coming into the station on closed-circuit television (CCTV) with two women in black party dresses without coats, probably in their twenties.

"We do not know if he knew them, or if they were just walking through the station with him, but they got off the train at Darlington.

"We are appealing for them to get in touch with us."

The man was about 5ft 10in, with short brown hair and blue eyes.

He had an Arsenal tattoo on his right leg, an England tattoo on his left leg, a bulldog tattoo on his right shoulder and a Celtic, or libra, tattoo on his left arm.

The man was hit by a train at about 3.25am. He was taken to hospital, but died from his injuries.

Police would like to hear from the two women, and anyone who caught the 2.10am train from Newcastle.

People with information have been asked to call 0113-247 9517.