Police have recovered a body from the River Thames following a search which began close to the Royal Docks on Tuesday evening.

Officers from the Met’s Marine Policing Unit recovered the body of a man in his 20s at 1.43pm yesterday in the Newham stretch of the river.

The previous evening, a search had begun after reports of a man in the river close to Sir Steve Redgrave Bridge which lies over the entrance to the Royal Albert Dock.

Police, London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade attended but the search was called off due to poor light and weather conditions.

Police said they know the identity of the man but are yet to make a formal identification.

The body has been taken to East Ham Mortuary and a post-mortem examination is set to take place.

The death is being treated as unexplained at this early stage.