EMERGENCY services were called to the River Avon at Evesham after the body of a man was discovered floating in the water.

The body was found between two boats moored on the river by Hampton Ferry at about 11.40pm yesterday (Thursday).

Bystanders watched as Evesham firefighters launched a boat on to the river and brought the body to shore by Raphael's Restaurant in Boat Lane, to be taken by ambulance to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

Station officer Steve Fellow said: "We sent a crew out on the river to recover the body, which will now be taken to a morgue in Worcester."

Ferryman Phil Royle said he was digging in the garden of the restaurant when the body was discovered.

"Someone came up and asked me if I could phone the police because a body had been found in the water," he said.

Sergeant Jim Bayliss from Evesham Police said a statement had been taken from the person who discovered the body.

He added: "We have recovered a man's body from the river and will now be making further inquiries to find out what happened and who this person is. At this stage it is too early to have any indication of who it might be."

The coroner at Worcester was being informed as the admag went to press.