THE mystery of a man who defecated three times in Sunderland railway station over several months may be solved.

British Transport Police said officers had made contact with a man they wanted to speak to following public appeal in which a CCTV image of the suspect was released.

The first incident happened on September 16, 2016 at 5.40am, the second on January 5, 2017 at 5.45am while the third happened on Tuesday July 4, 2017 at 8.17am.

The first two times the man went into the station and defecated by the south stairs.

On the most recent occasion, he defecated inside the south lifts.

After each incident he got onto a metro which was heading towards Newcastle.

A transport police spokesman said: "Officers have made contacted with a man who they wanted to speak to in connection with an incident in which a person had been defecating at Sunderland station.

"The man will be voluntarily attending a meeting to speak with officers in due course.

"Officers would like to thank the media and members of the public for their assistance in publicising the appeal."