A MEAT factory worker was released last night after being questioned by police after a manager was found dead in an office.

Detectives are investigating reports that, minutes before his death, Dennis Covell, had been involved in an argument with a colleague at Jackson's Wholesale Meat Suppliers at Wheatley Hill, in County Durham.

A man was last night being questioned by police after being arrested in connection with the death.

Ambulance crews were called to the meat packing factory, at about 6.30am yesterday after reports that Mr Covell, 59, from Loftus, in Cleveland, had been found slumped in an upstairs office at the factory, in Moor View.

Paramedics alerted the police and an inquiry was launched after factory workers told officers that Mr Covell, a father of two adult daughters, had been involved in an argument.

Police arrested a 40-year-old man from Sunderland at the scene. He was last night being held at Peterlee Police Station for questioning.

Home Office pathologist Dr Nigel Cooper was last night carrying out a post-mortem examination at the University Hospital of North Durham to try to determine the cause of death. The results are expected today.

Detective Inspector Kevin Langan, of Peterlee CID, said: "While at the moment we are treating this as a suspicious death, we must also keep an open mind. The findings of the post-mortem examination should go a long way to establishing what factors might have contributed to Mr Covell's death."

Officers spent most of yesterday at the factory interviewing staff and an incident room has been set up at Peterlee Police Station

The factory has been a major employer in the village for the past 15 years.

Last night the site was cordoned off by police and a crime scene had been set up.

A police van was parked within the tape and two community support officers stood on guard.

One villager said: "Nobody seems to be able to say what happened for sure.

"There are lots of rumours flying about the village but I don't know what to believe."