POLICE are hunting a man of oriental appearance after a body was discovered in a flat in Hartlepool.

The man's body was discovered in the property above the Italiano's Pizzeria take-away, in Park Road, earlier today.

Ambulance crews were called to the scene at 11.30am and pronounced the unnamed man dead at the scene.

Paramedics then contacted Hartlepool Police before uniformed officers, plain-clothed CID detectives and forensic investigators swooped on the flat and the surrounding area An investigation is now underway, with the area being combed for clues as to how the man met his death. Parts of Park Lane remained closed last night.

Police are treating the death as suspicious.

The man police are hunting for is believed to be about 5ft 8in, medium build, wearing dark trousers and a yellow T-shirt. He may also be carrying a dark coloured rucksack.

Police say he was last seen leaving the rear of the flat at about 11.30am yesterday (WED), before running across the car park outside Middleton Grange Shopping Centre heading towards York Road.

There was a police presence at Hartlepool railway station yesterday (WED), which is believed to be linked to the investigation.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police said: "Police are investigating the suspicious death of a man found in a residential property above Italiano's Pizzeria on Park Road in Hartlepool.

"He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Police were called at 11.30am."

She added: "Enquiries are ongoing."

Officers were combing Park Road, searching bins and bushes and the nearby car park for clues.

People working in the at the The Cozy Cafe have spoke of their shock at the news.

Shirley Shipley said police arrived at around 1.30pm and told them to let customers finish their food before closing.

She said: "We didn't hear or see anything but then the ambulance and police arrived. We don't know what has happened.

"You don't expect something like this to happen on your own doorstep. We are shocked."

Another witness, who did not wish to be named, said: "Police have been walking up and down the street looking for clues."