A MURDER investigation was launched yesterday after a man walked into a police station and confessed to killing his friend.

The 41-year-old told officers at Etal Lane police station, in Newcastle, that if they went to a flat in Newburn, several miles west of the city centre, they would find the body of a man.

Police went to the first-floor property in Millfield Close and made the grim discovery.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said that it would not be known how the unnamed man died until the results of a post-mortem examination, expected today.

However, the death was being treated as suspicious and a murder inquiry has been launched, said the spokesman.

The 41-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and detectives are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area between Saturday evening and 11am yesterday.

Inspector Jan Harrison said: "We recognise that incidents like this heighten concerns for members of the public.

"However, it would appear this is an isolated incident between people who knew each other and not a random attack on a stranger.

"Over the next few days, extra police officers and community support officers will be on patrol in the area, providing reassurance to the local community and addressing any concerns they have.

"On behalf of the investigating team, I would ask anyone who knows anything to please contact police."

An incident room has been set up at Etal Lane police station and anyone with information is asked to call police on 08456-043-043.