A body was found in the river at Stoke Bridge, Ipswich

IPSWICH: Police officers are today trying to locate the relatives of a man whose body was pulled from the River Orwell.

Shocked town residents watched on in horror as firefighters worked to recover the man’s body from the river yesterday.

Police officers and the fire service were called to the River Orwell, close to Stoke Bridge at about 11.30am.

They were first alerted to the incident after a member of the public reported finding the body of a man in the water.

It is understood the man is in his late 20s and was a musician who was well-known across the town.

Last night, a spokesman for Suffolk Police said the man’s next of kin did not live locally and officers were working with another force to make contact with them.

A small crowd of onlookers watched on from Stoke Bridge was a water rescue unit from Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service worked alongside expert officers to help remove the body from to river using specialist equipment.

The death is currently being treated as unexplained as is standard procedure.

Police said there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding it.

n Did you know the man? Would you like to pay tribute to him? Call The Ipswich Star newsdesk on 01473 324790. Alternatively, you can pay tribute by e-mailing starletters@archant.co.uk