POLICE were forced to use ladders to reach a balcony where neighbours spotted a body.

A resident in Claremont Heights, Colchester, dialled 999 after they saw Stuart Stocking on the balcony of his flat. Two ambulance crews attended the scene while police officers used a ladder to reach the first-floor balcony.

The 30 year old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Stocking worked in computering and up until a few months ago he was an infrastructure consultant with Avanade, a privately-owned American IT company, which has offices in London. He had worked there since May 2004.

The company expressed its shock at the news of his death, but has still to make any further comment.

His death has shocked his friends, including patrons at the Nofolk Pub, in North Station Road, Colchester where he was a regular.

One friend told the Gazette Mr Stocking had been in the pub on Friday and had seemed fine.

Donna Veasey, from Essex Police, said: “We were called to an address in Claremont Heights, Colchester, at about 1.10pm on Sunday. On arrival we found the body of a 30-year-old man.

“His death is not being treated as suspicious.

“A file has now been passed to the coroner for consideration.”

She confirmed officers had used a ladder to reach Mr Stocking because he had been on the balcony.

Jason, the licensee at the Norfolk pub, said the news about Mr Stocking, an ardent Liverpool fan, had come as a shock.

He said: “He will be sadly missed by Jason, Fiona, Gemma and Amy and all the locals at the pub.

“He was very well known. He was friends with lots of people that came in here.

“He had a very good sense of humour.”