RESIDENTS spoke of their shock after police cordoned off part of a North-East town centre following the discovery of a body.
Officers were called to Poplar Street in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, just after 6.30am on Monday morning following reports of an injured man lying in the street.
Police and the ambulance service attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Forensics officers are examining the area where the man's body was found
Nicola Henderson, 49, said: “It is an awful thing to happen, especially so close to home. You just don’t expect it.
“I knew there was something going on at 7.30am. My neighbour texted me that the street was cordoned off.
“I went out and saw the forensic tent so I knew something really bad had happened. It is shocking.”
Mother-of-one Hayley Johnston, 26, said: “It is not the greatest street in the world but you don’t expect someone to be found dead on your doorstep.
“It is the sort of street where people keep themselves to themselves.”
Sarah Nedelciu, who has lived in the street for six months, after moving to the region from Romania, said it was normally a quiet area.
She said: “It is the first time there has been anything like this around here.
“It is shocking. I am scared.”
Forensics officers are examining the area where the man's body was found
A cordon has been set up on the alley, which links several Victorian terraces near the town's railway station.
Forensics officers have set up a tent over the spot where the man's body was found and are examining evidence at the scene.
Detectives have been carrying out door-to-door enquiries with people in the area.
A spokesman for Durham Police said: “An investigation has been launched following the discovery of a body in an alleyway off Poplar Street in Chester-le-Street this morning.
“Police were called to the area just after 6.30am today following reports of an injured man lying in the street.
“Officers and the ambulance service attended and sadly the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
“At this stage the death is being treated as unexplained and a cordon has been put in place while police enquiries are carried out.”
- Anyone who was in the area in the early hours of this morning is asked to get in touch with Durham Police by calling 101.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here