A super-fit police officer collapsed and died while out jogging on his lunch break with a colleague.

PC Mark Barnes, 29, had gone for a run around Hartlepool Marina when he became ill.

The officer, a member of the town's District Support Unit, was forced to stop and paramedics were called to the scene shortly after midday on Friday.

PC Barnes, who joined the Cleveland force in 1996, was unconscious when ambulance crews arrived and efforts to resuscitate him failed.

It is expected a post-mortem examination will be carried out shortly.

PC Barnes, who lived with his partner in Newcastle, moved to the North-East from Worcestershire with his family in 1984.

It is not known whether he had been suffering from any medical complaints prior to his death.

Chief Superintendent Mark Braithwaite said: "Mark was a well-liked officer who had a bright future ahead of him. His sudden death has come as a shock to everyone."

Officers who work in the specialised support units are required to have a high level of fitness and PC Barnes was dedicated to maintaining the standards required, he added.