DETECTIVES in Redcar are baffled by the discovery of a woman's body on the town's promenade.

The body of 44-year-old former teacher Debra McNicholas was discovered near the children's play area and paddling pool at Redcar at 7am on Sunday morning.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the mother of four had drowned, but police are treating the death as suspicious because injuries consistent with an assault or fall were found on her body.

Detective Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, senior investigating officer, said on Wednesday that officers were liaising with members of Mrs McNicholas' family and that house-to-house enquiries were continuing.

He said: "At this stage I am treating Debra's death as suspicious. I'm trying to build up a picture of how she came to be on the promenade.

"My appeal is for information from anyone who knew Debra or may have seen her, or been in her company, on Saturday night or Sunday morning."

Mrs McNicholas, who gave up teaching to look after her children, is understood to have left the house at 11pm on Saturday.

Police are unsure of her movements afterwards, and are questioning her family and friends for clues.

A possible sighting of Mrs McNicholas was reported to the police on Monday, but officers have ruled this out.

Throughout Sunday night a team of officers kept a vigil on the promenade in the hope of finding witnesses, and on Monday they continued to search the beach for evidence.

Det Supt Braithwaite said he did not know how long Mrs McNicholas' body had lain on the beach, or whether she had been attacked before reaching it. "I haven't ruled anything out," he said. "I'm keeping an open mind."

Det Supt Braithwaite said: "I am particularly anxious to speak to any fishermen who were fishing along the stretch of coastline between the Stray - between Redcar and Marske - and Redcar town centre.

"Two fishermen have already come forward but I believe there may have been others fishing there between late Saturday night and early Sunday morning and they may have vital information.

"I would ask them to contact the incident room at Redcar Police Station on (01642) 302690."