Police have arrested two men on suspicion of murder after a woman's body was found in a burning car.
Fire crews and police were called in the early hours of Tuesday to a blaze in Success Road, Shiney Row, near Sunderland.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service found a body while they were extinguishing the blaze, and it has since been identified as that of a woman.
Northumbria Police said two men aged 39 and 50 have been arrested on suspicion of murder and were in custody.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101.
A police cordon was in place at the top of a lane leading down to allotments.
Plot-holders were not allowed on to their allotments as officers were still working at the scene, off Success Road.