A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the discovery of a body in a flat above a pizza shop in Hartlepool.

The man was arrested 300 miles away near Southampton, Hampshire, last night and arrangements are currently being made to bring him back to the area.

The arrest comes less than 24 hours after a man in his 20s was found dead with multiple stab wounds in the flat above Italiano's Pizzeria, in Park Road at around 11.30am yesterday (WED).

Plain-clothed detectives, uniformed police officers and forensic investigators immediately began combing the area for clues.

Park Road was closed off for most of yesterday but has now been reopened.

A spokeswoman for Cleveland Police, said: "A 22-year-old man was arrested last night in Hampshire in connection with the death of a man whose body was found in accommodation above a pizzeria on Park Road, Hartlepool.

"The man was arrested by officers from Hampshire Police last night near to Southampton on suspicion of murder and arrangements are being made to have him brought back to Cleveland."

She added: "The man who died still has not been identified. A post-mortem was carried out last night and it is believed he was in his 20s and he had received multiple stab wounds."

Anyone with any information is asked to call Hartlepool Police on 01642-302126 or via Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.