A COUNTY Durham community has reacted with "shock" and "sadness" after the discovery of a body at a town allotment over the weekend.
Durham Police has confirmed that the body of a man was found at St Oswald’s Allotment on Hylton Close, Newton Aycliffe, on Saturday (May 14) morning.
For several hours on Saturday, allotment owners were stopped from entering the site to allow police officers to investigate the scene.
Read more: Man's body found at St Oswald’s allotment in Newton Aycliffe
It’s believed that there are no suspicious circumstance surrounding the man’s death on the allotment – and the police have confirmed that it's preparing a file for the coroner.
Following the incident over the weekend, The Northern Echo visited St Oswald's Allotment this morning (May 16) to talk to plot owners about the discovery.
One allotment owner, who didn't wish to be named, has said that he was blocked from entering the site on Saturday and heard multiple sirens attending the incident.
They said: "I visited the allotment like I usually would, and I wasn't allowed to get in - police blocked my path.
"A lot of allotment owners were upset because of the commotion, and now we've heard why - it's awfully sad that something like this would happen in our community."
Pictures of the scene this morning showed a return to the peaceful and calm allotment plots, compared to the scene that greeted those on Saturday.
Durham Police has confirmed the death of a man, with the police force announcing that no suspicious circumstances were involved in his death.
A spokesperson from Durham Police added: “We received reports that a body of a man had been found at an allotment in Hylton Close, Newton Aycliffe, just after 9am on Saturday (May 14).
“It is not believed there were any suspicious circumstances and the man’s family have been informed.
“A file will be prepared for the coroner.”
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