POLICE have launched a murder inquiry after a Leeds student was found dead in a shared house.

They are not ruling out he was the victim of a bungled burglary.

Officers were called to a house in Ebberston Terrace in the Hyde Park area of Leeds at about 2pm on Monday where they found the body of Joseph Mark Cook, 20, in a first floor bedroom. No-one else was in the house.

Mr Cook was studying fine art at Leeds Metropolitan University and was due to start his second year of studies. He was originally from Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

Detective Superintendent Bill Shackleton, who is leading the investigation, said he was keeping an open mind about what lay behind the death.

He did confirm burglary was one line of inquiry but the officer said he was not in a position to discuss what injuries Mr Cook suffered.

Mr Shackleton pleaded with anyone who was in the area or who knew Mr Cook to come forward.

He said officers found an open basement window and although this had a grill across it he believed it would not “preclude a burglary”.