AN ELDERLY man is recovering in hospital after police found him “restrained and in a distressed state” in his home last week.

A police spokesman said officers received a report expressing concern for a man inside a property in Marina Avenue, in Seaburn, Sunderland, on Tuesday, May 3.

Police attended and a man had been restrained and was in a distressed state. He was taken to hospital to be checked over, where he is still receiving treatment.

The spokesman said inquiries were underway to establish how long the man had been restrained for, but he is still too ill to speak to officers.

Detective Inspector Paul Stewart said: "We are continuing to investigate the circumstance surrounding this incident to establish exactly what has taken place.

"The man was in a distressed state and was immediately taken to hospital where he was found to be ill. He remains under the care of doctors and is not yet well enough to be spoken to by police.

"We continue to carry out other extensive inquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident but I want to reassure the public that this is very much an isolated case."

Anyone with any information, or who saw anything unusual in the area in the days leading up to the man's discovery, should contact police on 101 quoting reference 418 03/05/16.