POLICE have carried out a fingertip search of the area where a young man's body was found a week ago.

Detectives are still trying to discover how 18-year-old John Paul Jeffries died.

A murder-style inquiry was launched after the his body was found by fishermen on rocks, near the promenade, at Hartlepool Marina last Wednesday.

Mr Jeffries, of Lowthian Road, Hartlepool, had suffered head injuries, but police have not yet been able to determine how he was injured.

Officers from the district support unit yesterday combed the area where Mr Jeffries was discovered in an effort to discover clues to his death.

Detective Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, of Hartlepool CID, who is leading the inquiry, said police had spoken to a number of people who claimed to have seen Mr Jeffries in the days before he died.

He said: "I am encouraged by the number of calls we have received in response to the appeals I have made since we found John Paul.

"These will be quickly followed up so we can put together the pieces of the jigsaw with a view to finding out where and when he was last seen alive."

Anyone with any information should call the police incident room on (01642) 302189.