A POST-mortem is being held this afternoon into the death of a man found in a Darlington park.

Police this afternoon said that they do not believe that a third party was involved in his death.

However inquiries are still ongoing. He his not expected to be formally identified until tomorrow. Officers confirmed the body found in Springfield Park this morning belonged to a man in his early forties who had connections both in Darlington and Hampshire.

He had been staying at the Harrowgate Hill lodge and where he paid his bill yesterday, but failed to return as expected last night.

He was found at 6.47am this morning and his death is still being treated as unexplained while a post mortem examination is being carried out later today.

He was 5ft5in tall of slim build with light brown hair and a beard.

He was wearing denim jeans, a dark blue hooded top and brown pull on shoes.

Police are wanting to speak to anybody who saw a man fitting this description in the Harrowgate Hill or Springfield area last night or this morning.

Anybody with any information is asked to call police on 101 and ask for Darlington CID.