A MURDER investigation was launched last night after a man’s body was found in a doorway.

Police were called to Osmonde Close in Broadwater, Worthing, at 12.15pm on Tuesday when the body of a man in his early 50s was found.

He is thought to have been stabbed and a knife was found at the scene.

Officers saw the body lying inside the house and officers had to break in to gain access. Detectives have been trying to work out how long the man had been there.

It is understood police have some idea of a potential suspect but no more details were available last night.

On Tueday the first the house was cordoned off by officers and then later the whole road was blocked off with residents only being given access to get to their homes as PCSOs did house to house enquiries along Centrecourt Road.

Scene of crimes officers were also seen entering the property, which is in a cul-de-sac. Residents and councillors were shocked to hear a man had died in such a quiet residential street.

One resident told The Argus: “Police have been coming and going all day.

“Forensics teams have been going in and taking away evidence from the house.”

Councillor Bryan Turner, who represents the area including Osmonde Close on Worthing Borough Council, said residents will pull together following the tragedy.

He said: “I hadn’t heard this had happened but that is awful.

“I am pretty shocked to hear that. It is quite a small close-knit community around there.”

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “A murder investigation has been launched after a man was found dead in Worthing.”

Detective Chief Inspector Tanya Jones said: “Sadly, the man, in his early 50s, was dead and we are currently awaiting an indication of when he died. He is believed to have been stabbed and we have recovered a knife from the scene.”

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting Operation Waterhouse.

Alternatively call Crime- stoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

This case is the second murder investigation in Worthing in recent years.

Mark Manning went missing in April 2014 sparking one of the longest-running and highest profile murder investigations in recent Sussex Police history.

The bomb disposal expert, 54, of Brighton Road, Lancing, was last seen on April 19, 2014, before his family reported him missing on April 22.