DNA clue in logpile murder hunt

Police have sealed off the area near where the body was found

Police investigating the murder of a man whose body was found under a woodpile on Teesside, hope DNA tests will aid their hunt for the killer.

The man's badly decomposed body was found under a pile of logs by a couple walking their dog near Nunthorpe Village on Wednesday.

A post-mortem revealed the man had suffered massive head injuries.

Cleveland Police say preliminary results from DNA tests should be available on Monday.

Colleagues at neighbouring Durham Police were also trying to establish whether a palm print found at the scene could be identified.

It took officers from Cleveland Police more than 30 hours to remove the body from the scene, because of fears of disturbing vital forensic evidence.

The body was found shortly after 1030 BST on Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Karnail Dulkul, who is leading the inquiry, said people who had seen anything unusual in the secluded area during the past month, may be key to the investigation.

He said: "We have asked colleagues in Durham to help us try to identify the man's fingerprints.

"A five-hour post-mortem examination was held on Thursday night and it was apparent that the man had suffered extensive head injuries."

The couple who found the man's body are said to be "shocked" by the discovery.