Police officers in Southend searching for a missing man have located a body in woods in Hockley.

A member of the public called police at around 10.30am today following the discovery near Bullwood Approach.

Ambulance crews declared the man dead at the scene.

The man has been taken to hospital to be formally identified.

Officers are treating his death as non-suspicious.

The family of missing man Mark Barnes have been informed that a man's body has been found.