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A man found in a distressed state on the A66 had his penis cut off, it has emerged.

A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody.

Police were called at 4.50am to a report of concern for man who was seen on the A66 carriage way in a distressed state.

On police arrival the man was found to have serious injuries to his groin and was taken to hospital.

Police believe they have identified the man as a 40-year-old from the South Bank area.

A police spokeswoman said: “Police can confirm that the man found this morning on the A66 had wounds to his groin area.

“A 22-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assault and is currently in police custody.

“Officers are continuing to investigate and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on the non-emergency number 101.”

The incident led to the closure of the A66 Westbound from Greystone Roundabout to Chruch Lane.

The A66 was cordoned off by police from South Bank near Asda to the Grangetown roundabout heading towards Middlesbrough.

Each junction between the two points on the A66 had police cars or vans parked to cordon the road and police tape sectioned off an area at the South Bank end of the stretch of road.

Several police officers were seen combing the grass verge alongside the A66 just past South Bank Asda.

Police officers stopped vehicles at the Grangetown roundabout letting trucks through to access Teesport and diverting cars.

Later the Westbound carrigeway was reopened and the Eastbound one closed.

A police spokeswoman said: “The road closures were required as part of the investigation into how the man received his injuries.

“This is necessary so that officers can look for anything which may shed light on how he became injured or his direction of travel.

“If the road was not closed any evidence could be lost or destroyed.”

“Investigations are at a very early stage; however road closures will be lifted as soon as possible.”

Enquires are ongoing.

All road closures have now been lifted.

Anyone with information which may help the investigation is asked to contact police on the non-emergency number 101.