Family thank those who helped search for Tom Jennings

Police responded to reports of a body being discovered outside a basement flat in Norfolk Square just before 12.50pm.

Chief Inspector Nick Dias said: "Sadly, a body has been found believed to be that of missing Tom Jennings, who was also known as Tom Wright.

Police are continuing to search for missing man Tom Jennings from Portslade

"Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."

Following news of his death, Tom's family issued a statement.

It read: "We are absolutely devastated by the outcome. We would like to thank everyone who has helped us search for our loving son."

Sussex Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding Tom's death.

• READ MORE: Heartbroken mother issues statement after body of missing Portslade man found

A force spokeswoman said: "We are urging anyone with information to contact us online or call 101 quoting serial 262 of 04/03."

Tom had not been seen since Thursday after being spotted on CCTV exiting a bus in Western Road, Hove.

Police launched a desperate search for the 27-year-old over the weekend and issued a series of public appeals for help in tracking him down.

A first missing persons appeal was released by Sussex Police on Saturday, and it was believed Tom had been travelling by bus on his way to the B&Q store in Brighton Road, Shoreham.

His mother, Sarah Jennings, urged people in Brighton and Hove, and the surrounding area, to look out for him.

She said: "He is a very vulnerable young adult and has been missing important medication for two days now so may be slurring or sleepy.

“He got on a bus in Mile Oak on Thursday morning at 9am-ish to buy a drill from B&Q in Shoreham.

“(He) called from the bus to ask where B&Q was and we haven’t heard from him since.

“(This is) completely out of character. Police are aware and searching. He has taken absolutely nothing with him apart from money for the drill.

“Please check outbuildings and corners. He would be susceptible to start talking to strangers so could be with others."

Sarah said a bus driver had confirmed that Tom had been dropped off in Boundary Road, Portslade.

CCTV showed Tom exiting a bus in Western Road, Hove

On Sunday, she thanked the Brighton and Hove community after hundreds rallied to support the search efforts.

The missing persons appeals from police were widely shared across the city and several people reported possible sightings to police.

On Monday evening, as search efforts for Tom entered their fourth day, Sussex Police released new CCTV images of him boarding 49 bus in Boundary Road at 10.01am.

He was then seen exiting the bus in Western Road, near Farm Road in Hove,  15 minutes later.

But, this afternoon, Tom's mother Sarah confirmed that his body had been found.

In a post on social media shortly after 3pm, she said: "We have just had some terrible news. Tom has been found dead in the basement area of an unused flat. My heart is broken."