Spanish police are investigating the mysterious death of a British man who was found at his home with an arrow in his chest and his body partially eaten by his dog.

They said there were no other signs of violence, theft or forced entry at the home of the 53-year-old man near the eastern town of Orihuela.

The victim's flatmate found him on Monday lying on a bed with an arrow from a crossbow in his chest and the dog nearby.

An autopsy was being carried out to try and determine how the man died.

- AFP