A POLICE investigation is under way after the body of an 18-year-old woman was found dead at a Southampton hotel today.

Detectives, who are treating her death as suspicious, were called to the Hotel Ibis at West Quay Road following an incident at one of its rooms.

The victim's body was discovered just after midnight, although police have yet to say who found her or who raised the alarm with the emergency services.

A 26-year-old local man has been arrested in connection with the incident.

This morning the room was sealed off as scenes-of-crime officers carried out a detailed search as they try to piece together a picture of what happened and the victim's last moments.

A police spokesman said in a statement: "Police were called to a room at the Ibis Hotel in Southampton, where the body of an 18-year-old female was discovered.

"The incident is being treated as a suspicious death and a 26-year-old local male has been detained."

A post mortem was due to take place this afternoon to find out how the woman died.

It is not known yet whether the man and woman knew each other.

This morning staff at the 93-room hotel, where rooms cost up to £56 per night, were unable to comment on the tragedy. However, one said it was business as usual at the hotel.