AN investigation has been launched after the body of a man was discovered in a car which was pulled out of the River Colne by police.

The emergency services were alerted to the vehicle on Wednesday morning, when it was spotted in King Edward Quay at the Hythe in Colchester.

The fire service’s swift water unit carried out an initial search of the silver Ford Focus using thermal imaging and underwater cameras but nothing was found.

Coastguards from Clacton and West Mersea were also called to the scene but then stood down.

Police were able to pull the car out of the water at low tide on Wednesday evening, and found the body of a 52-year-old man from Maldon inside.

Officers from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit will carry out an investigation into how the car came to enter the water.

However his death is not believed to be suspicious and a report will be prepared for HM Coroner.

Essex Police are not looking for any other person or vehicle in connection with this incident.

A floral tribute to the man was left at the scene yesterday.

A nearby resident who asked not to be named saw the commotion created by the discovery of the car, but was shocked a body had been found.

He said: “I initially saw it on Wednesday morning and from a distance I thought a dinghy had come loose from one of the boats moored up at the quay.

“It is the most logical thing to see and it happens from time to time.

“When I went to look closer I saw it was a car with the bonnet open as well as all the doors and alll of the windows.

“The fire service, coastguard and police were all here and were doing searches.

“They borrowed a buoy and marked it, I assume so they could come and find it later.

“Then in the evening the helicopter was hovering above and they came and cordoned everything off when it was low tide.

“The car was in the middle of the river, but the tide can do really strange things.

“It is absolutely awful a body had been found.”