THE body of a man has been discovered at the bottom of a notorious Malvern quarry by a member of public.

A specialist team of search and rescue workers based at Malvern Fire Station was called in to recover the man's body, which was discovered at the bottom of the sixty-foot drop at Earnslaw Quarry near to Peachfield Common.

Police officers were first at the scene at 2.35pm on Friday and Malvern White Watch was called to begin a two-hour recovery operation.

"We used specialist lines and stretchers to bring the casualty up from the plateau, which was situated just above the lake," said Leading firefighter Adrian Thompson.

"We don't know how the body got there, but we have been involved in several rescues from this quarry in the past so the specialist equipment is essential."

The body was taken to the mortuary at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The man has yet to be formally identified and his next of kin are being informed. Details will be released when this has been completed. The coroner has been informed and a post mortem was due to be carried out today.