POLICE have confirmed a woman's body was found on the A174 PArkway in Middlesbrough in the early hours of this morning.

Officers were called at around 3.30am today by a motorist reporting someone in the westbound carriageway near Ormesby.

The body of a woman was discovered and a section of the A174 was closed for several hours to allow inquiries to begin.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: "We have now identified the woman, and her next of kin are aware of her death. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very difficult time.

"Inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death are continuing today.

"We would appeal for anyone who travelled on the A174 Parkway early this morning or anyone who may have seen a woman in dark clothing walking along the carriageway from around 1am, to get in touch."

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Anyone who has dashcam footage from around 1am is also asked to contact Sgt Jon Stokeld of Cleveland and Durham Specialist Operations Unit via 101. Please quote Event 046980