THE body of a man has been found on Portland.

Police said the body of a man in his 70s was discovered near Chesil Beach on Wednesday evening.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner is now investigating.

The man was found in a tent near to Quiddles Cafe. Police and paramedics were called to the scene at around 7pm.

A spokeswoman for Dorset Police said: "At 7.08pm, on Wednesday August 6, police attended a report of a man in his 70s who had passed away in a tent on the Esplanade on Portland.

"We don't know where he's from but now it's a matter for the coroner.

"It's not being treated as suspicious."

A spokesman for the Coroner's Office said: “There's been no identification done yet. We also haven't had the post mortem done so we are not quite sure what the cause of death is.

“The post mortem is due to be done on Monday.”

Upon hearing the news, Portland Mayor Cllr Rob Hughes said: "It's very sad when anyone is found dead, suspicious circumstances or not."

Cllr Hughes, who represents the Underhill ward, said his thoughts remained with the man's family.

He added: "We think of them in these times."

Angie Barnes, an outreach worker at Soul Food, said: “It doesn't appear to be anyone we know at Soul Food.

“Whoever it is, it is a dreadful discovery. Our thoughts go out to his family whoever he might be.

“It really is sad. My thoughts go out to them all.”

Soul Food is a Weymouth charity that supports the homeless. It feeds up to 140 people during four shifts a week with Angie coming into contact with hundreds more through her outreach work.

The charity also provides shower facilities, free clothing and a nurse and mental health worker attends weekly.

Angie added: “I hope his family find some peace and some solace.”

Cllr Rodney Wild, who represents the Underhill ward, said it was a shock for everybody.

He said: “I'm very sad to hear the news. I wouldn't want it to happen to anyone.”