Police investigate Darlington alleyway following incident

Residents awoke on Sunday morning to see police had been called to the Denes area and a cordon had been erected blocking off an alleyway.

The alley, located between Columbia Street and Craig Street was guarded by two Durham Police vans with one officer stationed at the scene at around 10am.

Police in the alley between Craig Street and Columbia Street in Darlington on Sunday. (Image: The Northern Echo) Three hours later, a crime scene investigation van arrived and a masked investigator was spotted with a torch searching behind residents' bins.

Other forensic officers were seen placing evidence markers in the alleyway and removing evidence from the scene in plastic bags.

The alley - which is normally accessible to the public - was blocked off from its junction with Hollyhurst Road to a side entrance at Craig Street. 

Police in the alley between Craig Street and Columbia Street in Darlington on Sunday. (Image: Northern Echo) The Northern Echo visited the scene on Sunday morning and spoke to concerned residents who described the area as "really quiet". 

Craig Street resident Tracey Bell, has lived on the street for around 30 years and said she has never seen an incident of this scale.

Police in the alley between Craig Street and Columbia Street in Darlington on Sunday. (Image: Northern Echo) She said: "We have no idea what has happened at all. My husband looked out the spare bedroom window and shouted me up to come and have a look.

"This is a really quiet area usually - you never hear anything. Everyone keeps to themselves."

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said she was unaware of an incident and woke to see police at the scene.

She said: "I was driving into work and I saw a police car parked beside the entrance to the alleyway, there was police tape.

Police in the alley between Craig Street and Columbia Street in Darlington on Sunday. (Image: Northern Echo) "I didn’t hear a thing last night, I was surprised to see police, it's scary  - it makes you feel vulnerable. 

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"I don’t know what’s happened. In the time that I’ve lived here I’ve had no trouble - it’s a really quiet area with loads of families on the street."

The circumstances of the incident still remain unknown with speculation growing online.

The Northern Echo has contacted Durham Police for more information.