THE Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police has paid tribute to an officer who was found dead on Sunday.

The officer has been named as PC Mick Atkinson who had served with the force for 17 years.

Chief Constable Lisa Winward said: “It was with great sadness that I learnt of PC Mick Atkinson’s sudden and tragic death this weekend.

“Mick was a distinguished officer and had been part of the North Yorkshire Police family for 17-years.

"He started his service as Police Constable in Scarborough and then moved into the Dog Support Unit and became a handler.

"He was a well-liked and much respected member of the team and of our wider policing family and his loss will be felt profoundly.

“His death has come as a great shock to all of us and our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time.”

Police do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances around PC Atkinson’s death and Superintendent Mike Walker said: "This is an utterly tragic incident.

"Our thoughts are with the officer’s family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time."

A spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said officers from West Yorkshire Police were called to a house in their force area at 11am on Sunday.

She said: "Sadly, on arrival, officers found the body of a man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

"A coroner’s enquiry will be held, but police do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death."