DETECTIVES investigating the discovery of a man's body in a Darlington alleyway this morning, Saturday, say they are treating the death as unexplained.

Durham Police said the body of a man in his 20s was found in an alleyway off Surtees Street at about 10.30am.

Officers were called out by the ambulance service after the body was found.

A post mortem examination is expected to take place later this evening to determine the cause of death.

The Northern Echo:

Police at the scene on Surtees Street, Darlington

A section of Surtees Street remains closed off while police investigations continue.

Detective Superintendent Kevin Weir, who is leading the investigation, said: “At this stage we are treating the death as unexplained and an investigation to determine exactly what happened is continuing.

“Officers have carried out a forensic examination of the scene and are carrying out house-to-house inquiries in the area”.

Earlier, several members of the public gathered at the scene while police officers guarded the entrances to the back alleys in the area.

Scene of crime officers have been working inside the ambulance and North East Ambulance Service staff were interviewed at the scene by police.