This tattoo is the clue police hope will identify a body which washed ashore at Brighton last week.

Coastguards and police pulled the body ashore at Brighton last Monday. Since then police have been trying to work out who the man is and are publicising the tattoo in Sussex, the UK, France and the Channel Islands.

His body is believed to have been in the sea for up to three months and could have come from anywhere along the Channel.

The tattoo, showing a church with three gargoyles below it, was on the man's upper right thigh.

He was aged between 25 and 35, 5ft 11in and weighed 76kgs.

He was wearing a short two-tone blue wetsuit, a black extra-large T-shirt and blue combat style trousers with padded knees and a French label inside reading: "Outiror Pantalon de Bricolage Taille 42/44".

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove coroner's office said: "Due to the type of clothing it is thought the man must be a water sports person, either a kite surfer or dingy sailor."

Anyone who knows a missing person matching the description or has any information about the clothing is asked to contact Mr Beldam on 01273 665525.