POLICE are investigating after a man was found apparently beaten to death in his home in New Marske.

Father-of-two Robert Carter, known to friends as Jack, suffered severe head injuries in a downstairs bathroom in the house in Sandmoor Road.

Mr Carter, 62, who has suffered from multiple sclerosis for 30 years and was confined to a wheelchair, was found by his son on Wednesday morning.

When police arrived to search the detached property, a 33-year-old local man was found sleeping in an upstairs bedroom.

Det Insp Colin Galloway, who is leading the investigation, said officers were due to interview him yesterday.

He said the body was found after a carer could not gain access to the house and called her supervisor for assistance.

They contacted Mr Carter's adult son who arrived and made the grim discovery in a shower room, next to a downstairs bedroom.

Det Insp Galloway said: "This was a very tragic end for a man who has suffered for over 30 years with multiple sclerosis."

He said: "The property was cordoned off and scenes of crime officers entered the house.

"While making a search of the house they discovered a man in an upstairs bedroom. He appeared to have been sleeping in a bed.

"It is too early to say for sure, but this man may have been invited into the house. We need to speak to anyone who saw Mr Carter recently.

"It is possible that he could have been in the house for about 24 hours but this is also speculation at this time."

Det Insp Galloway said Mr Carter had last been seen alive at about 3pm on Tuesday, January 4, at his home by a member of the public.

The former metallurgist for British Steel, who is divorced, was a regular at the Mermaid pub in Marske.

Det Insp Galloway added: "Mr Carter was a very private man who had suffered with MS for many years. This is a very tragic end for him."

Forensic examiners continued their investigations at the scene yesterday and door-to-door inquiries were being carried out to try to piece together the final moments of Mr Carter's life.