A body found washed ashore on the beach has been identified.

Police were called at 10.30am yesterday after a beach cleaner alerted police a person was dead on the seafront at Sunny Sands.

The area was sealed off while officers investigated the death but it is not being treated as suspicious by police.

The body has now been identified as a Folkestone man aged in his 50s and his next of kin have been informed.

It has not yet been revealed why or how he died but police said he was not a fisherman and confirmed he was not a migrant.

After about four hours, officers combing the beach investigating the man’s death took down the cordon and left the scene.

VIDEO: Officers at the scene yesterday.

A spokesman said: “Police were alerted just before 10.30am about the discovery of a man’s body on the beach at Sunny Sands in Folkestone.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious.

“He has been identified as a man aged in his 50s from Folkestone. His next of kin are aware.”

The man’s death has not been connected with a large rescue on Sunday night involving lifeboat crews, police and the coastguard helicopter from Lydd in which a woman was winched to safety.

Emergency services were called at around 9pm to reports several people had been swept out to sea and one person was winched to safety.

Police have now issued an appeal for witnesses who might have seen what happened in the lead up to the dramatic rescue mission.

A 50-year-old woman swam out to sea from Sunny Sands.

But concerned onlookers raised the alarm with police when she appeared to get into difficulties. She was rescued shortly after 10pm.

Officers are now hoping to hear from anyone who saw the woman before she went into the water or were present during the rescue operation involving the emergency services.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Sgt Matt Rentell on 101 or email matt.rentell@kent.pnn.police.uk.