POLICE searching for a man who abandoned his car at Mudeford, have found a body at Hengistbury Head.

The discovery was made on Sunday evening by a member of the public.

A search was launched for the driver on Saturday morning, after his abandoned car was found unlocked with the keys inside at Mudeford Quay.

The Mudeford RNLI lifeboat, the police helicopter, Coastguard teams and several police cars were involved in the search for the driver of the vehicle.

A pair of glasses and a coat were also discovered on the quayside on Saturday by fisherman Pete Dadds.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “At 6.39am on Saturday, May 23, Dorset Police received a report of an abandoned insecure vehicle at Mudeford Quay in Christchurch. The vehicle is registered to a man from Southampton.

“A search of the area was carried out by officers from Dorset Police, assisted by the National Police Air Service helicopter and HM Coastguard.

“At 9.25pm on Sunday 24, the body of a man aged in his 70s was found in the water at Hengistbury Head by a member of public.

“The man’s next of kin have been informed and the coroner notified. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

“Enquiries are now being conducted by officers from Dorset Police and Hampshire Police on behalf of HM Coroner.”

Southbourne resident Anthony Fuller said he saw the body in the water while walking at Hengistbury Head around 9.15pm.

“He was in the water. I brought him out of the sea and put him on the shore with the help of a passer-by, while I was on the phone to the police”, the 44-year-old photographer said.

“It’s very sad. I thought it was someone in the water and went in to help, thinking they were in distress.”

Police cordoned off the beach while the body was recovered, he added.

A red Ford Focus was recovered from Mudeford Quay on Saturday afternoon.

Rebecca Laker, co-owner of The Fish Stall at the quay, said CCTV footage from their cameras showed a car pulling up and a man walking down the steps to the water.

The police helicopter was also seen circling Christchurch Bay on Sunday morning as part of the search efforts.