Area of riverbank, open meadows and woods was cordoned off by police after a man's body was recovered from a Norfolk river.

Eastern Daily Press: Police vehicles at the scene of the discovery of a body in water off Campion Road in Theford. Pic: Simon Parkin.Police vehicles at the scene of the discovery of a body in water off Campion Road in Theford. Pic: Simon Parkin. (Image: Archant)

Police were called shortly before 7am today following reports a body had been found in water near to Chervil Walk in Thetford.

Norfolk police confirmed that a body had been found and that they were trying to establish the man's identity. The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but is not thought to be suspicious.

Police forensics vans were in Campion Road close to the scene and blue and white police tape was put up across trees in nearby woodland, while the scene was investigated.

Emergency services including fire appliances and rescue vehicles were Chervil Walk, which has an access to the riverbank.

Eastern Daily Press: Police investigators close to where the man's body was recovered in Thetford. Pic: Simon Parkin.Police investigators close to where the man's body was recovered in Thetford. Pic: Simon Parkin. (Image: Archant)

The area sealed off by police is a mixture of woodland and open meadows alongside the river, close to new housing developments and is popular with dog walkers. The cordon was lifted shortly after 12pm.

The River Thet is 1.25km long and flows down the east side of Thetford before joining the River Little Ouse which runs through Breckland.

Marilyn Cole, whose house is beside an access gate to the river, in Chervil Walk, said: 'It was a real commotion this morning with police and fire.

'I thought it was my neighbour being taken to hospital but then I saw them getting access through the gate down to the river.

Eastern Daily Press: Police close to the scene of where a body was found in Thetford. Pic: Simon Parkin.Police close to the scene of where a body was found in Thetford. Pic: Simon Parkin. (Image: Archant)

'We do get trouble with kids in the woods and crime, but it's been quieter this summer so this is a shock.

'We have had quite a bit of trouble with people camping in there. They set up tents then go through here to buy drink from the shop.

'The river isn't very deep down there though so I don't know what can have happened.'

Trevor Bailey, who regularly walks his two dogs alongside the river but was prevented this morning by police tape, said: 'It is pretty shocking to hear that they have found a body. The river isn't that wide or deep but I suppose anything could have happened.

Eastern Daily Press: Police tape cordons off the riverbank next to the River Thet. Picture: Simon ParkinPolice tape cordons off the riverbank next to the River Thet. Picture: Simon Parkin (Image: Archant)

'You do come across people you are wary of walking through here and I know there has been some problems. It's nice countryside though and I've never felt scared. I'm just glad it wasn't me who discovered the body because that must be pretty horrible.'

• Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who was in the area yesterday afternoon through to this morning. They are asked to contact Det Con Matt Hendry at Thetford CID quoting reference 93 of 25 August 2018.