RESIDENTS in a leafy street were shocked to find their road at the centre of a suspected murder investigation.

A man's body was found in the doorway of a flat in Brittany Road, Hove, in the early hours of yesterday.

Neighbours woke to find a black tent outside the property, which is close to the street's junction with the seafront A259 road.

At about midday, Sussex Police announced that the man’s death was being treated as unexplained.

The Argus:

They said that a 56-year-old man had been arrested in connection with the death and was currently in custody.

Shortly before 1pm, police told The Argus the man had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Our reporter spoke with neighbours at the scene, who were unaware the street was now the centre of a suspected murder inquiry.

"They were wonderful people," said one resident, who knew those living at the address.

Forensic teams scoured the driveway of the home as officers stood guard by police tape, which had been attached to the home’s bins.

Investigators were then seen dusting a Volvo D3 parked outside for fingerprints before covering the car in a protective sheet.

Officers conducted door-to-door enquires as detectives spoke to two people in a car parked nearby.

One neighbour said: “There are such lovely people living on this road.

“We were thinking of having a street party in a couple of weeks. We’ve gone through all the hoops, but maybe that’s not appropriate now.”

The Argus:

Leo Tramer, 27, who used to live at the address where the body was found, said: "I saw this on the news and was shocked – absolutely shocked – to find out what had gone on at the place where I used to live.

"It's such a nice and friendly street that you wouldn't imagine anything like this would happen there."

A spokesman from Sussex Police said: "Emergency services were called to a report of a man found sadly deceased in the doorway of a flat in Brittany Road, Hove, at 4.37am yesterday.

"The man’s death is being treated as unexplained at this stage.

"A 56-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the death and is currently in custody.

"The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time."