A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been charged with murder following the discovery of a body in a field in the early hours of Friday morning.

Daniel Oxley, 22, originally from Murton, will appear before Peterlee Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Police have named the victim, who was found behind the High Street, in Willington, near Crook, as 42-year-old Michael Outhwaite, who is originally from Sunderland.

A post-mortem examination carried out yesterday revealed he died as a result of stab wounds.

An area around Cumberland Terrace was cordoned off following the discovery for forensic examination and officers remained in the town all day conducting door-to-door enquires.