A Police investagation has been launched after a man's body was found near the scene of a car accident.

The body of a 40-year-old man, who has not yet been named, was found in the early hours of Tuesday morning in what police are describing as 'suspicious circumstances'. The victim was said to have suffered head and other injuries.

The gruesome discovery was made in the grounds of the Residential Harperley Hotel near Tanfield Lea, County Durham.

The dead man, who police say lived in North West Durham, was believed to have been with another man in a Vauxhall Corsa which spun off the road at 10.pm the previous evening before coming to rest in a ditch.

The two occupants then walked through the grounds of the hotel in an attempt to make their way home. It is believed the two men became seperated in the sub-zero tempertures.

Police have confirmed that they have arrested a 37-year old man who is being held for questioning at Durham City Police Station.

A post-mortem examination of the victim is scheduled to be carried out by a home office patholgist. It is hoped that this examination will also reveal if the man's injuries were caused during or after the car crash.

Detective Super Intendent Neil Malkin of Durham Constabulary, who is leading the inquiry, said: "At the moment we have an unexplained death in suspicious circumstances which we are treating as suspicious.

"The road where the crash happened has been closed off and detectives will be carrying out a detailed examination of the scene.

"We would like to talk to any members of the public who witnessed the accident or who saw the two men at the scene in the aftermath."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Durham Police on 0845 6060365.