A MISSING man was found dead on the banks of a river in Essex.

A MISSING man was found dead on the banks of a river in Essex.

Police fought heavy rain recovering the body of a 59-year-old man believed to be from the Clacton area.

Clacton Coastguard assisted police in freezing conditions after receiving a report of a body on the bank of the River Colne, Wivenhoe.

The man was declared dead at the scene after being lifted ashore, at about 12.25pm yesterday, and police were able to confirm the body was that of a missing person.