THE body of a man found near Basildon Golf Course on Monday, August 12 has been formally identified as that of missing man Michael Redmond.

A post-mortem examination was carried out yesterday, but failed to establish a cause of death.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Further tests are now being conducted.

"Police are not treating Mr Redmond’s death as suspicious, but have renewed their appeal to the member of the public who found a wallet a few weeks ago and handed it in to the One Stop Shop in London Road, Vange, to come forward and contact Essex Police on 101."

Mr Redmond, of The Vale, Vange, was last seen on July 5 and police had been searching extensively for the dad-of-one who worked as an engineer in Purfleet in the days after his disappearance.

A file is now being prepared for the Essex coroner’s office.

Mr Redmond’s family have been informed.