A MAN found dead in a kayak on the Isle of Wight was traced back to Sussex via a receipt in his pocket.

Police are struggling to identify the man, thought to be aged in his twenties or thirties, whose body was found in Yaverland Beach, Sandown, on Friday evening.

But a receipt in his shorts led Hampshire police to the Brighton Canoes shop, in Newhaven, a force spokesman confirmed.

The man is understood to have been shopping there last Tuesday, the last known time he was seen alive.

Officers are now trying to piece together what he did in between visiting the store at around 4pm and being found dead three days later at around 7.30pm.

Luke Tarrant, a worker at Brighton Canoes, in Avis Way, said he did not believe the man was a regular customer.

He added: “My understanding is that he came here and was buying stuff in the shop, but I was not here that day.

“I think a receipt was found on him so they knew he had been here.

“It was one of my colleagues [who served him], who is not here today.

“I don’t know exactly what he was buying, but this was the last place they managed to place him at.”

Police were called to the beach on Friday after the kayak with the man's body inside was spotted by horrified locals.

A spokesperson for Hampshire police said he had not been reported missing after going for a paddle, contrary to other press reports.

His death is being treated as unexplained while police enquiries continue.

Police say the man was white, believed to speak with an Irish accent, aged mid-20s to mid-30s, with blue eyes and dark hair.

He is described as having “nice teeth” and described as 'well built'. He was wearing beige shorts and a blue zip-up jacket.

His kayak was an inflatable yellow and black Sevylor.

Anyone who recognises the man from the description or has any information that may help the investigation is asked to call 101 (Hampshire) and ask for Newport CID.