The family of a man found dead in the English Channel has been tracked down following a public appeal.

The body of Daniel Mark Beggs, from Clacton in Essex, was found seven miles out to sea off Dover.

Yesterday, detectives launched an appeal to help trace his next of kin.

Today, they confirmed his family had been found, and thanked the public for their help.

Officers were alerted of the discovery of 42-year-old Mr Beggs' body in the water on Sunday, August 13.

An inquest opened on Wednesday but police do not believe the cause of his death was suspicious.

Lifeboat crews from Walmer RNLI found his body after a ferry passenger raised the alarm.

Walmer’s volunteer crew launched their Atlantic lifeboat at about 4.40pm after a cross-Channel ferry, en route to Dunkirk, reported to Dover Coastguard a body had been seen floating mid-Channel.

The ferry remained in the area while a UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter dropped smoke canisters to help with positioning.

Dover RNLI lifeboat was also on scene having launched earlier.