POLICE are keeping an open mind as to how an ex-bouncer met his death.

They are appealing for late night workers to help them piece together the last movements of David Griffiths, 39, whose body was found by workers in a pile of rubbish in a recycling shed, last Friday.

Heavily tattooed Mr Griffiths had been drinking in pubs in Zetland Road, Middlesbrough, on Thursday night, before apparently setting off on foot for North Ormesby. Cleveland Police say after visiting Deniros and the Isaac Wilson pub, he made a telephone call home from a kiosk near Marks and Spencer in Middlesbrough town centre, just after 3am on the day he died.

It is believed he then walked up Linthorpe Road and turned left into Corporation Road, stopping to make a further call from a telephone kiosk behind the town hall at the bottom of Dunning Road.

His body was discovered by workers grading rubbish for recycling at Teesside Waste Management in Dockside Road, that afternoon.

Police are appealing to taxi drivers, shift workers and workers carrying out town centre road improvements, to check their memories of that day.

Detective Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, who is heading the investigation said: "It is vital we speak to as many people as possible to discover the route that he took.

"Although it was late, there would still be many people out and about and they could prove vital in piecing together his last movements.

"Although we are treating this as a suspicious death I have a completely open mind as to what has happened.''

Mr Griffiths, who was 6ft tall, had very short hair and a thin ginger moustache.

He was wearing dark blue denim jeans, black and white lace up Adidas trainers and a dark grey, long sleeved, ribbed pullover, zipped up at the throat. He had a gold wedding ring on his left hand and a gold signet ring on his right hand.

Anyone with information should ring Cleveland Police on (01642) 303187.