POLICE are still trying to trace people who were seen in the area where a university student was found dead.

Detectives investigating the death of 20-year-old Stephen Shaw, whose body was found in a dry moat near Durham Cathedral, ruled out suspicious circumstances.

However, they still want to speak to six people seen on security camera footage in the area last Thursday morning.

Mr Shaw, a second-year Durham University classics student, was found in 3ft deep dry moat, near the cathedral's north door, shortly before noon on Thursday.

A bag containing money, a mobile phone, computer keyboard and personal possessions were found next to the body.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Shaw's death, but detectives remain uncertain how he came to fall.

Mr Shaw suffered head injuries after he fell into the moat, either from the cathedral or from ground level.

A spokesman for Durham City CID said examination of security camerra footage revealed that two people had been walking in the moat at about 2am last Thursday.

Four people were seen walking in the area shortly after 7am. Two members of this group were seen getting out of a light vehicle, possibly a hatchback, and the other two appeared to be pedestrians.

Mr Shaw, from Middlesex, spent his first year at Durham in accommodation at Collingwood College.

This year he lived in a house with friends in the Gilesgate area of the city.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0191-386 4222.