DETECTIVES investigating the suspicious death of a North-East woman are appealing for help in tracing a pair of shoes.

The body of 44-year-old former teacher Debra McNicholas was found near the children's play area and paddling pool at Redcar at 7am on Sunday, September 16.

Although a post-mortem examination showed the mother- of-four had drowned, police are treating the death as suspicious because injuries consistent with a fall or an assault were found on her body.

Now detectives are asking the public for help in retrieving a pair of shoes which a witness saw near the area where Mrs McNicholas's body was found.

The witness recalled seeing the black loafers, which were said to be in a good condition, in the Stray, between Redcar and Marske, early on the Sunday morning.

But when officers returned to the scene, the shoes had gone.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Presumably they were removed by someone who had picked them up for safe keeping and has since forgot to hand them in."

Detective Inspector Gordon Lang, from Redcar Police, said: "I want to reassure whoever may have the shoes that they have nothing to fear from getting in touch with the incident room.

"All we are interested in at present is the shoes themselves. I would urge anyone who can help us to contact the incident room on 01642 302690."