A missing man has been found after a six-hour huge police and coastguard operation was launched in Old Leigh.

Last night, emergency services launched an operation to find a missing man, amid fears he was seen undressing before walking towards the water.

Shortly after 4.40pm yesterday, Essex Police were alerted to a man who had been wearing blue shorts, a white short-sleeved shirt and a baseball cap.

READ MORE >> Huge emergency service operation launched in Old Leigh 

He then undressed, leaving belongings behind including his phone and bank cards, before began walking towards the water wearing tighter-fitting black and white shorts.

A police and coastguard operation was subsequently launched over fears he had entered the water.

Crews searched for more than six hours on land, in the sea, and in the air. The operation included the Rescue 163 - coastguard helicopter, coastguard teams from HM Coastguard Southend and HM Coastguard Canvey, RNLI Southend Lifeboat hovercraft and Essex Police the MISPER. 

The search was conducted from Thorpe Bay up to Two Tree Island by all assets involved across land, sea and air with Essex Police checking various locations in land.

The force has now confirmed that the missing man has been identified and is safe and well at an address inland.

A spokesperson for Essex Police added: "Good news. We had earlier appealed to the public for information on a man in Old Leigh who we were working hard to find.

"He has now been identified and he is safe and well.

"Thank you to everyone who shared our appeal and who got in touch to provide valuable information.

"Your efforts to help really do make a difference."

A spokesman for HM Coastguard Southend added: "HM Coastguard Southend last night led a large scale search locally for a male seen on CCTV entering the water in just shorts leaving their personal belongings on the shoreline and were not seen to return reported by a number of first informants.

"The missing person appears to have entered the water at Old Leigh and become disoriented and somehow was able to exit the water elsewhere and made their way inland to a place of safety which was later established by Essex Police.

"This was a very good outcome and all assets were stood down approximately 12.30am.

"Should you see anyone in trouble on or near the coast, don’t hesitate to dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard, you could save someone’s life."