TWO young men may hold the key to the suspicious death of a teenager.

Police investigating the death of John Paul Jeffries, whose body was found wedged between rocks at Hartlepool, said they had discovered a new lead. The 18-year-old's body was discovered by two men fishing off the breakwater, near Church Street, last Wednesday evening.

Detectives are treating the death of the former student, who lived in Lowthian Road, Hartlepool with his family, as suspicious.

Detective Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, who is leading the inquiry said last night: "We do have a witness who believes that she gave a lift to John Paul last Monday morning.

"She picked him up with two other young men in Mainsforth Terrace, Hartlepool. It is important that I am able to identify who these two young men are and I would appeal to them to contact the incident room.

"They may have important information that would assist our enquiry."

Inquiries are on-going and an incident room has been set up at Hartlepool Police Station to coordinate inquiries.

John Paul, who spent a month at Hartlepool College of Further Education studying computers, was 5ft 10ins tall and of extremely thin build.

He had short, spiky, fair to light brown hair and was wearing beige Lee Cooper denim jeans, white sports socks and black Adidas training shoes.

He also had on a brown or beige short sleeve shirt with a Newcastle United logo on the left breast and a dark bomber jacket.

The police are also appealing for anyone who may have seen John Paul in the marina area, during the 48 hours before his body was discovered to come forward. Det Supt Braithwaite said: "John Paul was well known among the student community and I would appeal for anyone who may have any information to come forward."

It is believed he suffered head injuries and police are anxious to learn how he ended up where he did.

His family are too upset to speak but have released a picture of their son in a bid to help police trace vital clues to his death.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Hartlepool Police incident room on (01642) 302189.