Body found near river

A body has been found in undergrowth close to the River Severn near Bridgnorth, police confirmed today.

Officers discovered the body after they were called to search an area around Eardington yesterday afternoon.

Police would not say whether the body was male or female and said the exact details of how the person died were unclear and the death is being treated as unexplained.

Maria Hawkaluk, a spokeswoman for West Mercia Police, said: "Police were called to the River Severn near Eardington just before 2pm yesterday following reports that a body had been found. Officers attended and found what was confirmed to be a body in vegetation at the river bank.

"It was removed yesterday evening and the incident is being treated as an unexplained death at this stage. The body has not yet been identified and the coroner for south Shropshire Anthony Sibcy has been informed."

Locals today said that they had been left stunned by the discovery. Norma King, from the Bull's Head Inn in nearby Chelmarsh, said: "We had not heard anything at all we were very quiet last night."

Jamie Bailey, manager of the Swan Inn at Bridgnorth, said staff and customers would be shocked especially after police found another body in the river only four months ago.