A MAN may have been crushed to death sleeping off a drinking session in a skip full of rubbish as it was compacted for recycling.

The body of father of four David Griffiths was found by a worker sorting a delivery at a recycling plant in Middlesbrough's Dockside Road, on April 26.

Detectives investigating the 39-year-old's death, which is being treated as suspicious, believe the unemployed construction worker decided to sleep off the effects of a drinking session in a skip, rather than walk home to North Ormesby.

Cleveland Police are working their way through security camera footage of Middlesbrough town centre, hoping for a glimpse of the former club doorman.

A spokesman said: "Police have carried out detailed checks on the collection of large waste skips and containers in Middlesbrough town centre.

"Officers, accompanied by officials from the Health and Safety Executive, watched demonstrations to understand exactly how specialist wagons are loaded and the contents compacted with hydraulic rams before being dumped for sorting and recycling."

Anyone with information is asked to ring the incident room, on (01642) 303187, or 07771 771314.