Former footballer Martin Garratt has died at the age of 34 following a lengthy struggle with alcohol problems.

Garratt, who played for York City, Mansfield Town and Lincoln City, died at a house in Middlesbrough on Friday, October 24 after Cleveland Police were called to assist ambulance workers just before 5.30pm.

According to the Teeside Gazette, neighbours have revealed that Garratt was living in the property where he passed away.

"They had received a report of a 34-year-old man taken seriously ill at the address," a police spokeswoman is quoted as saying.

"Minutes later, while officers were on their way to the address, we received a further call from the ambulance service reporting that sadly the man had died.

"Following an investigation, officers deemed the man's death was not suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner."

An inquest is due to be held following the death of Garratt, who was handed an Antisocial Behaviour Order in 2010, which banned him from being drunk in a public place, visiting a number of pubs in the town and behaving in a threatening or intimidating manner.

Garratt made his senior debut back in 1998 for York and last played in 2002 for North Ferriby United.