James Allen double murder manhunt: Police cordon off street

Police searching for a man named in connection with two murders cordoned off a Middlesbrough street while officers went into a house.

Over 100 officers from the Cleveland and North Yorkshire forces are involved in the search for James Allen, 35.

It follows the discovery of the bodies of Colin Dunford, 81, in Middlesbrough and Julie Davison, 50, in Whitby.

Cleveland Police went to a house in Lothian Road earlier but it is thought Mr Allen was not there.

Lothian Road was cordoned off but was later reopened.

Lee Johnson, from BBC Tees, said a number of police officers were guarding the house, which it is believed Mr Allen had been living in.

He said officers in white overalls had taken items out of the house and loaded them into a van.

One man, who lived two doors away, said he had spoken to who he believed was Mr Allen three or four times and that he had lived at the house for about a month. He said he was shocked by the developments.

Mr Allen is known to police and they advised people not to approach him but to contact them immediately.

Cleveland Police said he had previous convictions for violence and was potentially involved in a number of other offences.

He is described as 5ft 7in (1.74m) tall, with a bald head and tattoos on both arms.

Temporary Det Ch Supt Gordon Lang, head of Crime Operations for Cleveland Police, said they were focusing their efforts in the Cleveland Police force area and around Whitby, North Yorkshire.

Mr Dunford's body was found at his home in Leven Street on Monday night.

Police said a post-mortem examination revealed he suffered serious head injuries as a result of a significant assault.

Ms Davison was found at a flat in Church Square, Whitby, on Wednesday. She had also suffered head injuries.

Police said Mr Dunford and Ms Davison did not know each other.