Police are continuing to investigate the discovery of a body that was pulled out of the River Orwell on Sunday morning.

The body was spotted by passing sailors at about 8.45am, who then alerted police.

It is believed it was in the Cliff Quay area of the river, and it was recovered by the Harwich inshore lifeboat using the Orwell Yacht Club’s slipway where they were met by police and coastguard units.

Yesterday, a Suffolk Constabulary spokesman said: “Officers are now working to identify the body and as is usual procedure in these cases the death is currently being treated as unexplained.”

A force spokesman today said the investigation remains ongoing.

It comes nearly a month after a man in distress was seen jumping off the Orwell Bridge, leaving behind a pair of blue Nike Air trainers.

After extensive searches by Suffolk police and coastguards, the man was never found and no reports of a missing person were made. Police are not currently commenting on whether they are connecting the two incidents.

Speaking on Sunday, Philip Newman, commodore of Orwell Yacht Club, said: “We came down this morning for our race and there were a number of police officers and ambulance crews who told us about a report of a body at the Cliff Quay.

“Next thing I know they have retrieved the body using our slipway, they brought the unfortunate person on land then just went through usual procedures and went away.”

More than 40 people have fallen to the deaths from the Orwell Bridge since it was opened in 1982.

The bridge walls are 1.25metres high, which is deemed sufficient to prevent people from accidentally falling, and Samaritan phones are provided on approaches to the bridge for people in need of emotional support.

If you need help, you can contact the Ipswich and East Suffolk confidential Samaritans helpline on 01473 211133 or 08457 90 90 90.