A 17-year-old youth has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found dead near The Nag's Head pub, Darlington.
The man, thought to be in his 40s, was found by a member of staff in an alley by the Nag's Head, Tubwell Row, Darlington, on Thursday night.
A small fire was found near the unconscious man, who had suffered severe head injuries.
Paramedics were called, along with other emergency services, but he died at the scene, Durham Police said.
Firefighters put out the fire next to him.
The scene was cordoned off for detailed forensic examination and in incident room has been set up.
The victim is not being identified yet and a post-mortem examination is due to be carried out later on today by a Home Office pathologist to establish the cause of death.
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