A man has died following a "parachute incident" at an industrial estate.

Emergency services were called to South West industrial estate in Shotton near Peterlee at 12.30pm on Saturday.

A man, in his 40s, was declared dead at the scene.

The man has yet to be named but is thought to have been a member of the Sky-High skydiving club based at Shotton Airfield, half a mile away from where he was found.

A spokesperson said: “A British Skydiving board of inquiry will investigate the incident and when completed will submit reports to the coroner, the police, the CAA [Civil Aviation Authority], British Skydiving, and any other relevant authorities.

"The report will include the board’s conclusions and will, if appropriate, make recommendations."

Detective Chief Inspector Mel Sutherland, who is leading the investigation said: “Officers are keen to speak to anyone who was travelling on the A19 at about 12.20pm to 12.30pm who may have mobile phone footage or dashcam footage which captures the moments leading up to the incident.

“Our thoughts remain with the man’s family at this time.”

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The ambulance service said it sent teams to the industrial estate after a call at 12.22pm on Saturday. Police and fire services joined hazardous area response teams, two ambulances and the Great North air ambulance.

A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: "We received a call at 12:22 BST to reports of an incident in the South West Industrial Estate areaS of Peterlee.

"We dispatched four Hazardous Area Response Teams (HART), a clinical team leader, a specialist paramedic, two ambulances and requested support from the air ambulance."

Anyone with information is asked to contact 101 quoting incident number 168 of April 27.

A spokesperson for Sky-High Skydiving told ChronicleLive: "The British Skydiving Board will investigate the incident and when completed it will submit its findings to the relevant authorities."