Three arrests in murder inquiry

Mr Sneddon had suffered a "sustained and vicious" beating

Three people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead at a house in County Durham.

Emergency services discovered the body of Simon Sneddon at the property in Forster Street in Darlington on Friday.

The 25-year-old, of no fixed address, had been badly beaten. A post-mortem examination revealed he had died from multiple trauma injuries.

Two men, aged 19 and 23, and a 30-year-old woman, all from Darlington, are being questioned.

Police have not ruled out the possibility of further arrests.

Mr Sneddon was originally from the Barnard Castle area but had been staying at a number of addresses in County Durham and on Teesside prior to his death.

A police spokesman said that Mr Sneddon had suffered a sustained and vicious beating, which was believed to have happened on Thursday night or early on Friday morning.

He appealed for anyone who had seen or heard anything unusual during that time to contact police.

An incident room has been set up in Darlington.