POLICE launched a major inquiry after a man's body was found in Settle in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday) morning.

Father-of-four Craig Iveson had serious head injuries, and was found on the pavement outside the Royal Oak at 2.50am.

Aged 31, Mr Iveson lived in Hawes, and was a slaughterman, who had been working on the current foot and mouth cases in North Craven.

The Herald believes he was a guest at the hotel.

Det Insp Mick Moore said he had a team of detectives looking into the circumstances of Mr Iveson's death.

He added: "It is a very sad affair, but we are not treating it as a suspicious incident at this stage."

"However, we would like to speak to anyone who heard or saw anything in the Market Place area between 1.45am and 2.50am.

"They might be able to help us piece together Mr Iveson's last few hours."

His body was spotted by a passerby in front of the second entrance to the pub, opposite Corner News.

Police closed off the main street while forensic tests were carried out, and traffic diversions were put into operation. The road was later opened to pedestrians.

A Home Office pathologist was called in to carry out a post-mortem examination, and detectives were awaiting the results as the Herald went to press.

Detectives from Skipton CID carried out house-to-house inquiries and questioned local residents, business people, and possible witnesses.

Yesterday, a forensic expert could be seen taking samples from a window of a first floor guest room.

It is understood one theory being considered is that Mr Iveson fell from the window.

Melanie Holcroft, proprietor of the Corner News, said that she had woken at four o'clock in the morning and saw flashing blue lights, but had not heard any-thing.

The owners of the Royal Oak did not wish to make a comment.

Other local business people said they had not seen or heard anything until yesterday morning after the body had been removed.

The coroner has been informed, and an inquest is expected to be opened at a later date.

Less than a year ago, 26-year-old Matthew Turner, a plasterer from West Yorkshire, died after falling from the balcony of the nearby Shambles.

A local man was charged with his murder, and a trial is due to take place at Bradford Crown Court in July.

And two years ago, the Market Place was the scene of another accident when a local resident survived a fall.

Settle residents gathered around Market Square yesterday morning to speculate about what had happened.

One man commented: "We are having one a year. You get the feeling you daren't go out after 10 o'clock."

Another woman commented: "It's getting more like the big city everyday."

There was also despair that the tragedy came as the town struggled to survive the after-effects of the foot and mouth outbreaks.

"It's just one thing after another," one man said.

Anyone with information about the latest incident should contact Skipton CID on 01756 793377 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.