POLICE launched a major investigation after a man's body was discovered in a York flat.

Police taped off the area around three apartments at Cemetery Road last night and forensic officers combed the property after reports of an assault.

Detectives were today trying to piece together exactly what happened - but confirmed the death was being treated as suspicious.

Police said a 36-year-old man was arrested last night in connection with the death.

He is being held at Fulford Police Station and was due to be quizzed by detectives later today.

Officers were called to the scene at about 9pm and stunned neighbours looked on as forensic teams scoured the complex for clues.

The entrances to three flats within the complex were cordoned-off with police tape and an officer stood guard outside well into the early hours.

Mystery surrounds what exactly happened in the moments leading up to the death.

But Inspector Steve Burns, of North Yorkshire Police, confirmed officers were called to the property - opposite York Cemetery - after an assault.

No details were released about the victim. However, Insp Burns confirmed the death was being treated as suspicious.

He refused to say whether a murder investigation had been launched at this stage, but he confirmed that a 36-year-old man was being held in connection with the assault and death.

He is believed to have been taken to nearby Fulford Road police station for questioning.

One person living in the flats complex told the Evening Press they had heard loud music and arguments earlier in the night.

Another said paramedics arrived at the building just after 9pm, but left without a body.

A Crime Scene Investigation van, a police van and a patrol car were all parked outside the large three-storey flat complex last night.

Four uniformed officers, a female detective and two forensic officers in white suits and masks, who took pictures in a first floor front room and removed evidence in bags, were all at the scene.

One first floor window in a room where forensic teams were working had a Scotland football flag covering it. There was also a sticker advertising The League of Gentlemen television programme in the window.

Another rear door leading to a separate flat was damaged.

Inspector Burns last night said the York coroner had been informed about the death.

A post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death was due to be carried out today by a Home Office pathologist.

Inspector Burns said he could not give more details about what happened at the flats.

He said: "We've had an assault at the property that we are investigating. It's very, very early stages at the moment."

Updated: 09:55 Monday, October 25, 2004