Suicide online

Police are investigating the death of a 42-year-old man who appeared to harm himself while talking to people in an internet chat room using a web cam. Police were called to an address in Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, on Wednesday evening, after a viewer in another area of the UK dialled 999.

Kevin Neil Whitrick, of Orleton Lane, was pronounced dead at the scene.

BBC Midlands Today said there were unconfirmed reports that the man had hanged himself.

A West Mercia Police spokesman confirmed Mr Whitrick had been using a web cam at the time of his death.

Det Ch Insp John Groves said: "Our inquiries to date have revealed Mr Whitrick was using a chat room with a number of other people at the time of his death. We are liaising with the internet service provider at this time to contact other users who were online at the time of the incident and who may have information that could assist our inquiries."

The death is being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination is being carried out into the cause of death. People who may have seen Mr Whitrick just before his death are being offered counselling, he added.