TWO people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after the body of a 23-year-old man was discovered at a property in Chester.

A 34-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman are helping police with their enquiries after they were arrested in Balmoral Park in the Sealand Road area of the city.

The property in question has been cordoned off with scenes of crime tape as police gather vital evidence. Officers have also combed the Shropshire Union Canal area behind Balmoral Park.

Inspector Chris Davies, of Cheshire Police, said the death of the man, believed to be from the Garden Lane area of Chester originally, was reported to the emergency services at about 6.15pm on Saturday.

He said he could not comment on the cause of death at this stage. A post-mortem examination was due to take place yesterday (Saturday, January 23).

Insp Davies also declined to release the name of the dead man or the two people who have been arrested.

"They have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Investigations are ongoing at this stage. The man and woman who have been arrested are helping police with inquiries," he added.

The death has shocked nearby householders. Residents have been talking to police officers who carried out house-to-house inquiries on Saturday night as part of their investigations.

One woman, who did not want to be named, said she had witnessed activity taking place near to the property in question at some stage during Saturday afternoon, involving someone running across the road and up the drive. She had informed police officers of what she saw.

Another neighbour said everyone was totally stunned at what had happened and they could hardly believe it was now the scene of a suspected murder case.

She said Balmoral Park was usually a quiet place to live with very little out of the ordinary taking place.