A TEENAGER is being questioned by detectives on suspicion of murder following the discovery of a young woman’s body in a Middlesbrough hostel.

The 18-year-old was arrested after the woman was found in a house on Parliament Road at about 3.35am on Saturday morning, when police were called by a concerned member of the public.

Cleveland Police have now confirmed that the victim was in her 20s and that she was a foreign national.

Officers are currently working with other agencies to formally identify her and to contact any next of kin.

A post-mortem examination carried out late on Saturday concluded that the woman had died from injuries sustained during an assault.

The scene was sealed off as forensic officers scoured the property for evidence while other officers carried out door to enquiries over the weekend.

A Cleveland Police spokeswoman said: “The body of the woman was found inside the multi-occupancy house after a concerned member of the public raised the alarm. Police and ambulance colleagues attended the address but she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

“Meanwhile officers are carrying out house to house enquiries and collecting CCTV from the area in a bid to gather information on the background to the woman’s death.

“Extra officers are also patrolling the area to reassure residents and anyone with any concerns or who has information is encouraged to speak to them.

“Officers have not yet formally identified the deceased lady who is believed to be from overseas, and they ask that anyone with information or who may have seen anything suspicious in the Parliament Road area of Middlesbrough in recent days or more particularly in the early hours of today to contact them.”

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Hunt, who is leading the investigation, appealed for anyone with information to call Cleveland Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.