A MURDER investigation has been launched after a body was found in the remains of a fire.

Emergency services were called to a blaze on Tunstall Village Green last Tuesday.

Firefighters attended and extinguished the fire, which had started inside a garage of a property and caused significant damage.

An investigation was launched into the cause, and as part of those inquiries, officers have now discovered human remains under substantial and dense rubble.

Police are currently treating the death as suspicious and on Sunday a 38-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder.

He remains in police custody at this time.

Detective Inspector Graeme Dodds, of Northumbria Police, has now asked anybody with any information that may assist the ongoing investigation to come forward.

He said: “This was clearly a very serious incident that has resulted in a tragic death.

“Significant work is ongoing at the scene which may take some time to complete.

“At present, we are treating the person’s death as suspicious but this investigation remains at a very early stage and we are remaining open-minded as to the circumstances behind the incident.

“The blaze caused a huge amount of damage inside the garage, and we are now determined to map out a chronology of events and find out the circumstances that led to this fire.

“While a formal identification process has yet to be concluded, we have notified the family of the suspected victim and are offering them support.

“We are currently interviewing one man in connection with the incident and he continues to assist officers with their enquiries.

“A visible policing presence will be seen in the area as officers continue to carry out enquiries and offer any reassurance to residents.

“I would now ask anybody who has any information and who has yet to come forward to come forward and contact police.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting reference 375 230220 or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.