A MAN'S body was hanging near a popular North-East beauty spot for several days while children played nearby.

The man, who has yet to be identified but is believed to be from outside the region, was discovered by a canoeist at about 3.30pm on Saturday in dense woodland near the Tees Cottage Pumping Station, Darlington.

The body, which was hidden from view, is thought to have been hanging over a river for several days, close to where children would have been playing.

The area was busy at the weekend as families took advantage of the warm weather.

The pumping station is near the Broken Scar picnic site in Darlington's Coniscliffe Road.

Nature trails pass through the site, but the body was found far from its paths.

Detective Inspector Paul Harker, of Darlington CID, said the body was hidden from the road and from the area, and that it could only be seen from the river.

He said: "It would appear to have been there for a few days from the state of the body."

He added that officers were trying to establish the man's identity.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious. A post-mortem examination is expected to be carried out this afternoon.

Det Insp Hardy confirmed it was the body of a man, but added that police were not yet sure what age he would have been.

He was also wearing distinctive clothing.

Police last night said they believed the man was not from the North-East area after an abandoned car was found some distance from the picnic site.

They were trying to contact the family of a missing man last night to confirm whether it is his body.

Officers said they were unaware of any other missing persons it may have been.

Anybody with information, or who might know the identity of the dead man, is asked to contact Darlington CID on 0845 60 60 365.