Merseyside Police have arrested five people on suspicion of murder after the body of a man was found in Pensby this morning.

At around 4am police received a report that a body had been found outside an address on Smallridge Close.

Emergency services attended, but the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. A post mortem will be carried out to establish cause of death.

Enquiries are ongoing to notify the man's next of kin.

Two 20-year-old women from Heswall, a 25-year-old man from Eastham, a 23-year-old man from Pensby and a 30-year-old man from Thingwall have been arrested by police on suspicion of murder.

They have been taken into custody and will be questioned by detectives.

An investigation has been launched and officers are at the scene while extensive CCTV, house-to-house and forensic enquiries are carried out.

Chief Inspector Simon Owen said: "We are in the extremely early stages of this investigation and our officers are working to establish exactly what happened in the early hours of this morning.

"While we have made five swift arrests, our enquiries continue and we would appeal to anyone with any information to please come forward.

"if you were in the Pensby area this morning and witnessed anything or anyone suspicious, then please get in touch. All information you hold could be vital to our enquiries."

Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information is asked to contact @MerPolCC on Twitter or 'Merseyside Police Contact Centre' on Facebook or call 101 with reference 22000211010.

You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.