TWO town residents have been left shaken and unable to sleep after finding a body hanging from a bridge.

The duo were walking along the banks of the River Orwell on Monday morning when they stumbled upon the body under the Princes Street bridge in the town centre.

They went to get help from nearby firefighters, but told The Evening Star the discovery had left them feeling “shaken”.

Suffolk police went to the scene alongside firefighters where the body of a man, believed to be in his 40s, was found.

One of the men who made the shocking find, and asked not to be named, said: “It was very disturbing. I just keep thinking about that man and the mind-set that he must have been in. It is a shame.

“Being a qualified first aider, I checked to see whether there was any hope in saving him if I had cut him down.

“But his fingertips were blue and there seemed like there was nothing I could do - so we went to the fire station to get their help.

“Neither of us have been sleeping very well. It has been playing on our minds since we found him. It was such a shock, you just don’t expect it.”

A spokesman for Suffolk police said: “We were contacted at 10.50am by the fire service after two people went to a fire station to report seeing a man’s body hanging under the bridge in Princes Streetp.

“Officers attended the scene with firefighters where the body was found. There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances involved in the incident.”

He was confirmed dead at the scene by paramedics from the East of England Ambulance Service. It is believed that the man is of Polish origin.

Last night, police confirmed that his next of kin had been informed and formal identification had taken place.

It is understood that he was homeless and possibly living in a tent by the river bed.

n Did you know the man? Would you like to pay tribute to him? Contact the Evening Star newsdesk on 01473 324788 or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk