Police have confirmed that the body of a man and woman have been discovered at Breydon Water in Great Yarmouth.

Eastern Daily Press: Fire Search and Rescue, the coastguard and the police at Breydon Water's edge to recover two bodies, believed to be a man and a woman, from the mud bank. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYFire Search and Rescue, the coastguard and the police at Breydon Water's edge to recover two bodies, believed to be a man and a woman, from the mud bank. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2016)

Officers were called to the scene shortly after 11.20am today after a birdwatcher reported seeing two bodies on the mudbank through a telescope.

The bodies of the man and woman, believed to be aged between 40 and 50 years old, were recovered with assistance from the Coastguard and Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service.

Police remain on scene with the Coastguard and firefighters.

Police have sent specialist units, CID and scene of the crime department officers to the scene, who are working alongside other emergency services.

Eastern Daily Press: Emergency services in Asda's car park at the edge of Breydon Waters.Emergency services in Asda's car park at the edge of Breydon Waters. (Image: Archant)

Emergency services are working to recover the bodies, while ensuring the scene is as safe as possible for the operation to be carried out.

There are also three fire appliances on scene in the Asda car park, which backs onto the river and Breydon Water.

Detective Inspector Chris Burgess, who is overseeing the enquiry, said: 'It has taken some time for officers to recover the bodies due to where they were discovered. 'The deaths are currently being treated as unexplained. We are in the early stages of the enquiry and it would be inappropriate to speculate any further.'

Chief Inspector Nathan Clark said: 'Once the bodies are recovered, our first job will be to identify the bodies and inform any next of kin.

Eastern Daily Press: Breydon Water, search after reports of two bodies being seenBreydon Water, search after reports of two bodies being seen (Image: Archant)

'Then the process will begin to gather as much evidence as possible from the scene to ascertain just how this tragic incident has happened and whether there are any suspicious circumstances to it.'

Emergency services are likely to be at the scene for some time, and police have urged members of the public to be mindful of the area.

Ch Ins Clark added: 'My advice would be for the public to be sensitive to the fact that the people involved may have families so to please be respectful of that, as well as the fact there will be lots of emergency personnel on scene.

'These people all have important jobs to do at the scene, so please allow them to do what they need to do.

Eastern Daily Press: Emergency services working at Breydon Water where two bodies were foundEmergency services working at Breydon Water where two bodies were found (Image: Archant)

'It's also important to remember that the mud flats are extremely dangerous, so please don't head there just to see what is going on.'

Ian Harris, 69, a birdwatcher who passed the scene, said: 'I was walking by at about 12.15 and saw fire engines and the coastguard. It seemed like a lot was going on but I couldn't tell what.'

Another passer-by said: 'Often boats need to be rescued from here, but just from the atmosphere you can tell that this wasn't the case this time.'

Post mortem examinations will be held in due course to establish the cause of death.