by Martin Jefferies

The body of an elderly woman has been discovered floating in the sea off the coast of Thanet.

A dog walker at Minnis Bay raised the alarm at around 9.30am this morning.

Margate coastguard Pete Overton said rescue teams recovered the body around an hour later.

A spokesperson for Kent Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing to establish how the woman died, adding: "The matter has been referred to the coroner, who will release identification once an inquest has been opened."

It is the second body discovered in Thanet this week.

On Monday evening, a rough sleeper found the badly decomposed remains of a man at the base of cliffs near the old hoverport site at Pegwell Bay.