Shock after man's body is found on beach at Hill Head

The discovery was made shortly before 9am by a contractor working on the area’s sea defence wall.

The beach was sealed off for much of the day while police recovered the body – believed to be that of a man in his 50s.

A spokesman for Hampshire police said: ‘We were called just before 9am.

‘The body is believed to be that of a man in his 50s.

‘The death is not being treated as suspicious and police are working to inform the man’s next of kin.’

The news has rocked Fareham Borough Council’s leader, councillor Sean Woodward, who said the community had been shocked by the discovery.

‘One of the contractors this morning sadly discovered the body the body on the beach,’ said the Sarisbury councillor.

‘The police were called and the body has been recovered.

‘It’s fortunate that it was a quiet, winter’s day and that there weren’t too many people on the beach.’

Cllr Woodward added: ‘It’s terribly sad to discover something like that and it must have been a shock for the contractor who discovered the body.’

The beach had been closed while work to fix the area’s crumbling sea defences was being undertaken.

The repair scheme was launched last week, much to the relief of residents.

It comes after concerns from beach hut owners over the future of their huts along the promenade which their feared could have been washed away without new defences being constructed.

Cllr Woodward said the work had been suspended today while police conducted their investigation.

He added that the operation to shore up the sea defences is expected to resume tomorrow.

The project will see a temporary wall made of concrete bags put in front of the damaged seawall.

It is expected to cost about £250,000,