POLICE are working to establish whether a man who is being treated in hospital following a crash on the A1 was the driver of a car linked to a murder in Whitecraig.

A body, believed to be that of Dolphin Inn landlord Steven Curran, was discovered by police officers at about 2am yesterday (Thursday) at the rear of the pub.

An earlier crash which had happened at about 12.30am, 24 miles away on the A1 south of Dunbar, is being linked to the incident. No people were in or near the car when police arrived at the scene, but a 23-year-old man who was found several hours later within a couple of miles of the crash site was being treated in hospital last night.

Investigations into the accident are thought to have led police officers to the Whitecraig pub where the car was registered. Reports suggest the Silver Toyota Celica belonged to Mr Curran’s wife, Jill.

Locals said the car may have been driven deliberately at father-of-two Mr Curran following an earlier altercation in the pub, while others spoke of “tyre marks” and “bruising” on the victim’s body.

Neighbour Alan Brown, 49, overlooks the rear of the pub from his home. “I saw the body, I’m guessing it’s him (Mr Curran),” he said. “I saw him every morning. He seems to have been quite well liked by the people who use the pub.” However, he was unaware of any disturbance on Wednesday night: “There was absolutely nothing at all, I was up until half past one, quarter to two with the wife,” he said. “There was no noise, no cars, nothing. The first thing I knew was police knocking on my door at about 3 o’clock, and I’m 25 feet from the place.” Mr Curran is believed to have a teenage daughter and a younger son, while he is thought to have lived in a flat above the pub until a few months ago.

One local said they believed someone had been run over before the “driver reversed over him and got away”.

Others said they were not surprised something like this happened in Whitecraig. “With drugs, drink, fights, there’s nothing but trouble up here - you’re not even safe on your own doorstep,” one told the Courier.

Detective Inspector Stuart Hood, who is leading the investigation for Lothian and Borders Police, said he was “confident” the two incidents were linked.

“We dealt with two separate incidents, one at 12.30am and one at 2am. There was a one-car collision on the A1, 24 miles away near the Dolphin Inn, Whitecraig. We then found a body of a male close to the Dolphin Inn in circumstances we thought to be suspicious.

“We could well be dealing with a murder. We are looking to link these two incidents.” Police had appealed for information on a man seen walking alone in the early hours of yesterday morning on the Broxburn Estate, off the A1 near Dunbar.

And Mr Hood said yesterday: “We are still trying to establish whether the person walking the estate in Dunbar is the driver of the vehicle.

“From the vehicle accident, the driver left the scene, and where it is on the A1 is a very rural location. If anybody was out and about in the early hours of the morning, it would be an unusual sight. There was a male found later suffering injuries who was taken for medical treatment.” A 23-mile stretch of the A1, from Grantshouse to Haddington, was closed in both directions until yesterday afternoon while police investigated the accident. Drivers were diverted along a lengthy route via Duns and Fala, with major congestion reported in the Borders. The road has since re-opened.

The pub remained cordoned off yesterday as forensic teams worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify the body.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the Dolphin Inn around closing time on Wednesday to come forward. Similarly, they want to hear from anyone who witnessed the Silver Toyota Celica being driven on or around the A1, perhaps erratically at the Thistly Cross and Spott roundabouts, to contact them immediately.

Anyone with information should contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 3113131, or Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555111.