POLICE have launched an investigation after the body of a man was found on waste ground tonight.

Officers were called to the Cockerton area of Darlington at around 6.30pm after the discovery of a body on an area of shrubland off Woodland Road.

Police were called to the scene and found the body of an unidentified man, thought to be in his late 30s.

Officers believe that the body may have lain undiscovered for a number of days.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious, but are appealing for anyone with information to contact Durham Constabulary on 101.