DETECTIVES have launched an investigation after a man's body was discovered near a public house.

Kent Police say the body was found at about 5am on Thursday between a car park at the White Horse pub in Rainham High Street and a construction site.

The discovery was made by a security guard working on the construction site. Building work is taking place there on a new medical centre run by the Medway Primary Care Trust.

Forensic officers carried out a fingertip search of the scene.

A spokesman for Medway Police said: “Until the cause of death is established, we will be treating it as suspicious."

The area was sealed off while police officers carried out their investigations. A post mortem is being conducted.