POLICE were last night investigating the death of a man - a day before his 50th birthday.

Walton Bell, of Fenton Terrace, in New Herrington, Houghton-le-Spring, died shortly after being found with serious head injuries in his house on Wednesday night.

A police spokesman said: "An ambulance was called to a house, where they found a man suffering from a serious head injury. He died soon after they arrived."

He said police were called to the house at 9.20pm and detectives were investigating.

"It would have been his 50th birthday today. We are treating his death as suspicious."

Anyone with information is asked to contact 0191-454 7555 ext 66406.