A photograph of a tobacco tin has helped police identify the body of a man found floating in a water-filled gravel pit in a quiet corner of Braintree.

Phillip Haines, 43, of Beech Avenue, Braintree, was seen in the water by a man walking his dog at Waterfield Pit, off Convent Lane, Braintree, at 11.20am on Friday.

Police used a flyer containing a description of Mr Haines - who lived in Braintree - to gain information from people in the town's pubs. He was eventually formally identified yesterday.

Det Insp Peter Orpe, of Braintree police, said: "We knocked on all the doors of houses surrounding the quarry but didn't get very much information.

"We also had little response to our appeals for friends and relatives."

Although police initially refused to rule out suspicious circumstances, they today described the man's death as a "terrible accident". Mr Orpe added: "This matter is not being looked at in a criminal way.

"He had a few superficial injuries but they were consistent with him being in the water. He had little nicks on his body - most probably caused by him desperately trying to escape from the water. He had clearly been thrashing about.

"We cannot say how long he had been in the water. He might have been there overnight but it's more likely he was on an early morning walk."

Essex Police diving unit recovered the corpse. A Home Office pathologist later ruled Mr Haines had drowned.

Death lake - Waterfield Pit, Braintree.

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