Residents have spoken of their shock and sadness at the discovery of the body of a man in a wooded park in the Bensham area of Gateshead this morning.

They were reacting as police treated the death of a man in a park off Shipcote Lane area of Gateshead as "unexplained".

Police were alerted after reports of concern for the welfare of a man in a park opposite the Gateshead Central Library shortly after 6am on Sunday (August 25).(Image: Picture: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The man was certified dead at the scene and a tent erected as forensic officers carried out their investigations. 

A resident at the scene named Amina Francis said: "There was a tent pitched in the park earlier in the week.

"Homeless people generally pitch tents or sleep in there in the summer, sometimes in the winter as well. I wonder whether it was one of the homeless people involved.

"Usually I'm walking my dog in there at about sixish. The only reason I didn't today is because I have a day off and had a lie in.

"So it could have been me that found the body. It would have been awful.

"It'll be some poor homeless bloke. It's terrible." (Image: Picture: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Another resident at the scene, who did not wish to be named, said: "It's terrible. Whenever you see tape up and hear someone has dies. It's always sad to see."

Another bystander said: "There are often homeless people in the park. It's quite shocking what has happened."

A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: “At 6.10am today (Sunday) we received a report of concern for the welfare of a man in the Shipcote Lane area of Gateshead.

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“Emergency services attended the scene and the man was confirmed as deceased. Officers are currently treating the man’s death as unexplained and a full investigation has been launched."

“A police cordon is in place and officers are in the area to carry out enquiries. Anyone with any concerns is encouraged to speak to an officer on duty.

“Anyone with information that can assist the investigation is asked to contact police by sending a direct message, using the live chat function on our website or by visiting https://www.northumbria.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/cor/tell-us-about-existing-case-report/ quoting reference NP-20240825-0241.”