Man's body found

1:51pm Monday 16th October 2006

POLICE in County Durham have confirmed that the body of the man found in woods in Cumbria on Sunday was that of a Barnard Castle man they had been searching for.

The body of 40-year-old Michael Bell, from Barnard Castle, was found hanging from a tree in Ewebank Wood, in the Stainmore area of Cumbria, just over the border from County Durham.

Police had been searching for Mr Bell since they discovered his abandoned car on the outskirts of the wood on October 6.

A chef at the Teesdale restaurant in Barnard Castle, Michael Bell was unmarried and lived at the Winston Gate caravan park. He also worked at a baker's in Crook.

Inspector Kevin Tuck, from Barnard Castle police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances and that an opening inquest into Mr Bell's death would be held sometime in the next few days.

He thanked all those members of the public who had rung in over the past week reporting possible sightings of Mr Bell both in Teesdale in County Durham and in Cumbria.