Bradley Arthur: Body found in hunt for missing Essex dad
Police searching for a man missing in Essex have found a body.
Bradley Arthur, 24, has not been seen since New Year's Day, when he was staying with a friend in Grays.
The body of a man was recovered from a drainage dyke off Manor Road in Grays shortly before 11:00 GMT.
Although the body has not been formally identified, a police spokesman said the search for Mr Arthur had been "suspended". The death is currently being treated as unexplained.
About 100 volunteers joined the search to help find Mr Arthur on Monday after his parents made an emotional plea for him to get in touch.
A photograph of Mr Arthur's four-month-old son Archie wearing a T-shirt saying "Please find my daddy" was also released by the family in a bid to raise awareness of the missing man.
Det Ch Insp Richard Baxter, who has been leading the search, said: "We have suspended our search for Bradley. His family has been informed and our thoughts are with them at this very distressing time.
"We would like to thank everyone who has assisted in the search for Bradley, especially those people who helped officers carry out searches in the Grays area... and the many people who offered information through our appeals on social media."
Mr Arthur, from Chafford Hundred, is believed to have spent New Year's Eve with friends at Orsett Hall and had gone on to Grove Road in Grays to stay with a friend.
It is thought he left the house at about 03:30 GMT on Thursday.