Bradley Arthur: Search for missing father called off after body found in Essex drainage ditch

Police searching for missing man Bradley Arthur have recovered a body in Essex.

Bradley Arthur, 24, from Chafford Hundred, was last seen at a house party in Grove Road, Grays in the early hours of New Year's Day. He left there at around 3.30am and had not been seen since.

Essex Police called off the search after a body was discovered in a drainage dyke off Manor Road just before 11am on Tuesday (6 January).

Arthur is father to a baby son. His family and friends had launched a campaign urging his safe return.

Detective chief inspector Richard Baxter, who has been leading the search for Arthur, said: "His family have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this very distressing time.

"We would like to thank everyone who has assisted in the search for Bradley, especially those people who helped officers carry out searches in the Grays area and also the media and the many people who offered information through our appeals on social media."

DCI Baxter said the body had not been formally identified yet and the death was currently being treated as unexplained.