POLICE have confirmed that the body found on a Somerset beach was NOT that of a yachtsman who has been missing for ten days.

Enquiries are still being made to identify a man whose body was washed up on a Burnham-on-Sea beach at the weekend.

Police were called to the stretch of beach off Esplanade after being alerted to the discovery of the body at 7am on Sunday.

Officers are not currently treating the death as suspicious and are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

They have referred the case to the Somerset Coroner as a sudden death.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said: “We were called shortly after 7am yesterday morning after a man’s body was found on a beach off Esplanade, Burnham-on-Sea.

“The death is being treated as unexplained but it is not currently believed to be suspicious.

“Enquiries to confirm the man’s identity are ongoing.”

It is believed the man had been in the water for some time and that his body was washed up with the tide.

Detectives will be keen to establish where and when he entered the water and how long his body had been on the beach.

Once the dead man’s identity has been established and a post mortem completed, an inquest can be opened.

It would probably be adjourned with a full hearing expected to take place in due course.

The Coroner’s officer declined to comment.

The police spokesman said the dead man is not missing yachtsman David Moore whose abandoned yacht ran aground at Berrow on Monday of last week, although police refused to confirm this.

Police issued an appeal to find Mr Moore, 43, saying they were “concerned for his welfare” after the discovery of his vessel near Berrow Church at around 6.30am.

A missing persons enquiry was launched the same day.

The Egoist had been seen leaving Watchet Marina on the afternoon of Saturday, June 1.

The two Burnham-on-Sea RNLI lifeboats were launched to investigate following reports of the yacht running aground.

They reported no sign of life on board but were unable to tow the vessel away safely.

If you have any information, contact police on 101 quoting reference 5219122957.