Police hold man over murder

A man was due to be questioned last night about the murder of a 90-year- old man who was found strangled, beaten and bound in his home.

The 25-year-old from the New Brancepeth area of Co Durham was arrested on New Year's Eve by detectives hunting the killer of Wilf Mann, a retired cobbler. The police suspect robbery was the motive for the attack

His body was discovered after a neighbour and a council care worker went to investigate after hearing a noise just before 9.30am on Tuesday. They saw a man leave the back door, run through the garden and leave by the gate.

The man was wearing a distinctive turquoise-coloured hip length jacket and a grey trilby hat.