Police are investigating after a man was found unconscious next to his car in a ditch and died.

The 79-year-old, of Southminster, was discovered unconscious at around 3.40am on Monday, February 24 next to his car in a ditch off Marsh Road.

Essex Police launched an appeal for information today.

A police spokesman said: “We are treating his death as non-suspicious and a file will be prepared for Her Majesty’s Coroner.

“We are appealing for information to fully understand how his vehicle, a blue Vauxhall Corsa, ended up in the ditch.

“We are also keen to trace any members of the public who have seen the vehicle.

“We understand the man left the Kings Head pub in Southminster at around 8.30pm on Sunday, February 23 before we received calls from his family around his disappearance.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Serious Collision investigation Unit on 101 quoting 004 of 24/02 or report information online by visiting www.essex.police.uk.