AN INVESTIGATION has been launched after the body of a man was found in the sea in Weymouth.

Emergency services were called to reports of a body in the water near Castle Cove at just after 7.45am yesterday morning (Wednesday).

The death is not suspicious and investigations are underway to determine the man's identity.

Police, Weymouth inshore lifeboat, coastguard teams and ambulance crews were all called to the incident.

The beach off Old Castle Road and Sandsfoot Gardens was cordoned off.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said: “At 7.47am, Dorset Police received reports of a body in the sea near Castle Cove.

“Officers have attended along with the ambulance service and the RNLI. A man’s body has been recovered but has not yet been formally identified. Police have cordoned off the area while they carry out their duties.

“At this time it is not believed to be suspicious.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said they were called to the incident at 7.53am.

He said: “We were called to a report of a body in the water. It looks like it may have been in the water for quite a while.”

The spokesman added coastguard teams recovered the body.

The coastguard National Maritime Operations Centre confirmed they tasked the Wyke Regis and Portland Bill coastguard rescue teams and Weymouth’s inshore lifeboat to the scene.

A spokesman said: “We sent two coastguard teams and a lifeboat to assist the police with the incident.

“We were called just before 8am.

“We assisted the police. It is now a police matter.”

Residents in the area expressed their shock and sympathy to the dead man's family.

One resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said: “I came down this morning for a walk with my dog, before the weather got too bad, and I saw that Sandsfoot Gardens was closed off with police tape.

"I saw a few police cars at the bottom of the road and the coastguard and as I was walking down more police came.

“One of my neighbours told me they had recovered a body from the water. It was such a shock. I have never experienced anything like this before. We all know each other pretty well around here too. My thoughts are with the person's friends and family.”

Resident Mary Lees, 67, said: “I heard and saw the police cars and ambulance rush down here. There were so many so I thought it must be something serious.

"When my husband told me what had happened I couldn’t believe it. It’s a horrible shock.

"I don’t know what happened but I pray for them and their family.”