THE body of a man has been discovered in the rubble following an explosion and fire at the disused Old Locomotive pub in Canterbury.

The explosion occurred on Sunday night in Station Road West. It caused the building to collapse. Police later appealed for a 40-year-old man from Canterbury to come forward after his family reported him missing.

Today a Kent police spokesman said that a body had been found last night. He added: "We have not yet had a formal identification and we are not releasing further details until next-of-kin have been informed."

Police are continuing enquiries into the incident which they are treating as suspicious.