A man's body has been found in the sea at Deal.

The discovery was made by Walmer RNLI yesterday afternoon after a passenger on board a cross channel ferry spotted it in the water.

It was recovered 10 miles south east of Deal with the lifeboat returning to Dover at 5.55pm where the body of a white male was passed to the police.

A police spokesman said: "We were called at 4.57pm on Sunday, August 13 after the RNLI recovered the body of a man in the Channel approximately seven miles off the Kent coast.

"Enquiries are ongoing to establish the identity of the man, whose death is not currently being treated as suspicious.

"A report will also be compiled for the coroner."

Walmer's volunteer crew launched their Atlantic lifeboat at around 4.40pm after a cross channel Delft Seaways ferry, en route to Dunkirk, reported to Dover Coastguard that a person’s 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.

Walmer RNLI helm Dan Sinclair has praised the professionalism of his crew Ed Benson, Andrew Coe and Luke Curry who he said carried out their duties in extremely difficult circumstances.