An investigation has been launched following the death of a man in a cell at a North-East police station.

The man, who has not been identified but is in his 40s, collapsed and died in Gateshead police station last night. He was being held in a cell following his arrest earlier in the day.

A post mortem examination is due to be held into the cause of death this morning.

Northumbrian Police informed the Independent Police Complaints Commission about the death at 7pm.

The Commission decided that its own investigators should undertake the inquiry and two IPCC investigators were sent to Gateshead last night.