Paramedics discovered the dead body of a 51-year-old man in bed when they went to treat his friend for diabetes.

Detectives are treating the death of Michael Joyce as suspicious after a post mortem examination of his body revealed he died because of a mystery leg injury.

The father-of-three is thought to have been in good health and his family had last seen him a few weeks before he died.

It is believed a wound to his leg caused internal injuries which led to his death.

Sussex Police officers are trying to establish how he received the injury but were not releasing any further details tonight.

He was thought to have only been dead for a short time when he was discovered On January 27 in the bedroom of a house in London Road, St Leonards, where he was living with a friend.

Mr Joyce, who was separated from his wife and has teenage children, had been staying at the house for a month.

There was no indication of a struggle or fight at the house where he was found.

At first the death was not treated as suspicious.

But a Home Office pathologist was called in to examine the body after suspicions were raised.

Detectives in Sussex Police's major crime branch are now trying to piece together Mr Joyce's movements in the last days and hours of his life.

They are trying to establish whether he received his injury in the house or elsewhere in the Hastings and St Leonards area.

And they are interviewing his family and friends and appealing for anybody with information to contact them.

Detective Inspector Wendy Burton said: "We would like to hear from anyone who has any knowledge of Michael Joyce and the circumstances in which he received the injury to his leg.

"I urge any witnesses to him receiving the injury to come forward."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Simon Bates on 0845 6070999, quoting Operation Henton.