Police have called off the search for a missing 43-year-old from Ashford after finding a man’s body.

Officers had yesterday issued an appeal to find Ashley Close, who was last seen at around 11.30am on Friday morning in the Brockman’s Lane area of Ashford.

A spokesperson for the force confirmed today that a body being found in a wooded area in Stelling Minnis, near Folkestone at around 11.20pm yesterday.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement, Kent Police said: “On August 11, at around 11.20pm, the body of a man was discovered in a wooded area in Stelling Minnis, near Folkestone. Officers attended and sadly the man was pronounced deceased at the scene.

“Formal identification has yet to take place, but officers have spoken with the family of a 43-year-old man from Ashford, who had been reported missing that same day, and they are aware of the discovery.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the coroner.”