Police are this evening treating the discovery of a 52 year old male as not suspicious.

A dog walker came across the dead body on Saturday which sparked a police response.

His body was discovered on a field located behind Dixon Estate, in Shotton Colliery.

The body was found at 9.30am, Police became concerned for the welfare of the male after he failed to return from a walk.

Soon after an missing person incident was raised with Durham Police, A dog walker called to say they’d made the discovery.

No formal identification has yet been made.

If you have any information please contact police on 101.