An investigation was today underway after a 26-year-old Chelmsford man died in police custody.

The man, who has not yet been named, was arrested shortly after 12.30am on Sunday in Main Road, Broomfield, Chelmsford.

Essex Police went to the scene following a call from a member of the public reporting noise disturbance.

The man collapsed and was taken by ambulance to Broomfield Hospital's accident and emergency department where he was certified dead at around 2am.

A police spokesperson said: "Although the man was not taken to the police station the incident is being treated as a death in custody."

Essex Police have referred the matter to the London-based Police Complaints Authority (PCA) to enable them to launch an independent investigation.

In a statement issued yesterday by the PCA, authority member, Jo Dobry, said: "I have agreed to supervise the investigation and will be in Chelmsford for the post mortem examination due to take place today.

"It is hoped that an investigating officer from the Metropolitan Police Service will be appointed".

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