POLICE have established that the mystery death of a North-East man was unlikely to have been murder.

Investigating officers are still waiting for the results of tests on the body of Anthony Muirhead, to establish the exact cause of death.

The body of Mr Muirhead, 25, of Acton Dene, East Stanley, County Durham, was found a short distance from his home, on a pavement outside a terraced house, in Elgin Grove, at 5am on Friday.

The discovery was made by an officer after a 999 call was made from Ruskin Close, about quarter of a mile away.

Police have interviewed four men and two women, who have since been released. An autopsy was carried out by Home Office pathologist Dr James Sunter on Friday, but the results were inconclusive.

Investigating officer Detective Superintendent Harry Stephenson said that although a "murder-style" inquiry was set up, new information had led to other lines of inquiry.

He said that police were no longer pursuing the possibility that the death may be drugs related, although it had not been ruled out.

An incident room has been set up at Stanley Police Station, and anyone with any information is asked to call (01207) 232144.