Police are appealing for help in finding out what happened to the 40-year-old from the York Road area of Peterlee.

He visited the Shell service station on Saturday at 10.30pm and three hours later returned home with cuts and bruises to his face, black eyes, a swollen lip and bruising to his ribs.

The police were called by concerned neighbours. But the man could not explain what had happened to him during the night.

PC Rob Mellenthin said: "We don't know if he's been hit by a car, been assaulted or had a fall but there must have been people out and about in Peterlee town centre who may have seen him and know exactly what went on."

The man's neighbours alerted police after he was seen struggling to get into his home at 1.30am on Sunday morning.

He was wearing a black jacket and blue jeans, and is described as balding with distinctive stubble on his face.

Anyone with information that could help police should ring Peterlee CID on (0191) 374 2611 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.