Coastguards leaped into action after a report of a package containing a dead body floating in a river.

A fisherman told Walton coastguard about the bag, off Bradwell Power Station, on Saturday lunchtime, but the bag turned out to be full of soggy cardboard.

Ray Stannard, of Maldon police, said: "It caused quite a stir."

Published Tuesday November 5, 2002

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