A MAN found dead in his fume-filled van had been interviewed by police over allegations he had sexually abused a young girl.

The body of gipsy Lawrence Wood - cleared of killing his lover in a notorious North-East murder trial - was discovered on Monday.

The unemployed horse trader was found not guilty of the murder of fairground heiress Miriam Culine in 1978.

His death came only days before the 26th anniversary of her murder.

Yesterday, it emerged that the 46-year-old had been interviewed by detectives from Durham Constabulary after allegations of indecency were made.

It is understood he was about to be charged with sexual offences involving a girl under 16. The allegations date back 16 years.

A police spokesman said: "He had been questioned by the police and released on bail.

"Details of that investigation are now in the jurisdiction of the coroner.

"It is up to him to consider all the circumstances."

Known as the Candy Floss Queen, Mrs Culine's charred body was discovered in her burnt-out car on allotments in West Cornforth, County Durham, on August 22, 1978.

Mr Wood had carried on an affair with 33-year-old Mrs Culine behind the back of her elderly husband, Fred Culine, who ran a travelling fairground.