A decomposed body has been found washed up on a beach.

The dead man was discovered on Eastbourne beach opposite the Western Lawns.

Eastbourne Coastguard team received an emergency call from Dover Rescue Centre that someone was in the water about 100 metres off the shore between the Wish Tower and the Western Lawns on Sunday just after 1pm.

On arrival the emergency services found the body of an unidentified male floating in the water.

The fully clothed body was recovered by coastguards and paramedics and taken to the mortuary at Eastbourne District General Hospital to await the coroner's officer. Sussex Police also attended the scene.

Stuart McNab, the station officer at Eastbourne Coastguard, said: "It would appear the body had been in the water for some time - at least a week, as it was badly decomposed."

He added that he did not think it was someone who had entered the sea from Beachy Head cliffs, further along the coast, as the man's injuries were not consistent with those of someone who had fallen from a great height.

Mr McNab said: "We were not aware there were any missing persons so do not yet know where the unfortunate casualty comes from."

Sussex Police are investigating but at this stage the death is not being treated as suspicious. They are currently trying to identify the body.