THE circumstances surrounding a man’s death remain under investigation after his body was found in a park yesterday morning.

However, police believe there was no third party involvement in the death of the man, who is believed to have connections to Darlington and Hampshire.

His body was found shortly before 7am in Springfield Park, Darlington, by a passer-by.

The man, who was in his 40s, was staying at the nearby Harrowgate Hill Lodge hotel. Staff there said he booked in on Sunday and had been staying on his own.

The man, who is expected to be officially named today, had paid his bill on Wednesday morning, but failed to turn up as expected that evening.

Officers are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen him in the Harrowgate Hill and Springfield area.

Yesterday, residents expressed their shock.

Peter Clayton, who lives in Gilsland Crescent, said: “There were two police cars and an ambulance at the side of the road. I noticed something lying in the park and I thought it was a dog initially – it was quite small – but then one of the ambulance crew put a blanket over it.”

Nathan Skippen, of Kingsway, said: “It’s a quiet area and you don’t normally get something like this.”

Last night, a police spokeswoman said the man’s death was being treated as unexplained.

She added: “Police are speaking to a number of potential witnesses to establish the events which led up to this man’s death.

“Inquiries are still ongoing, but there’s nothing to suggest at this time that there’s any third party involvement.”

The man was 5ft 5in, slim, with light brown hair and a beard. He was wearing denim jeans, a blue hooded top and brown slip-on shoes.

Detectives want to speak to anybody who saw him, or anyone with information, is asked to call police on 101 and ask for Darlington CID, or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555-111.