A MAN was being questioned by police last night after a body was found in the grounds of a country hotel.

A police investigation was launched yesterday morning when the body of a 40-year-old man was discovered 50 yards behind Harperley Hotel, near Tanfield Lea, County Dur-ham.

The dead man, who is understood to be from nearby Stanley, had suffered head and other injuries and was thought to have lain undiscovered overnight as temperatures in the area plummeted to -7C.

He is believed to have been one of two men in a Vauxhall Corsa that crashed near the hotel's entrance late on Monday. No other vehicle is thought to have been involved.

Detectives were yesterday trying to determine whether his injuries had been suffered during, or following, the accident.

The body was discovered at about 7am and police sealed off the area and launched the investigation.

Police were last night unable to confirm who found the body.

A 37-year-old local man, who is believed to have also been in the car, was arrested and was last night being held at Durham City police station for questioning.

It appears the two occupants abandoned the vehicle after the accident, at about 10.30pm on Monday, and walked through the grounds of the hotel to make their way home.

Investigators are working on the assumption that the two men became separated.

Detective Superintendent Neil Malkin, who is leading the inquiry, said a post-mortem examination would be carried out by a Home Office pathologist.

He said: "At the moment we have an unexplained death in circumstances we are treating as suspicious.

"The road where the accident took place has been sealed off and crime scene investigators will be carrying out a detailed examination of that scene and the network of footpaths and woodland where the body was found."

The road where the crash took place, known locally as Harperley back lane, was blocked by police yesterday and cars using it were being turned back.

Police are carrying out forensic tests on the Corsa.

Det Supt Malkin is appealing for anyone who may have information to contact them.

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

"We would also like to speak to anyone who spotted the two men as they began their journey home or who saw or heard anything that they considered suspicious."

Police can be contacted on 0845 60 60 365