A MAN has been found dead in Southend's public toilets.

Pitman's Close toilets were cordoned off by police from about 4pm today after the body of the Southend man in his 40s was found in one of the cubicles, which was then covered with a blue sheet.

A single police squad car was at the scene along with an ambulance and a paramedic car and two Cory workers left the scene to give statements at the police station at about 4.50pm.

The cause of the man's death has not yet been established but police and paramedics are continuing their investigations.

A spokesman said: "Inquiries are underway into the circumstances surrounding a death in Southend.

"Police were alerted to a seriously ill man inside public toilets on Pitman's Close at 4pm on Saturday, May 3.

"Officers arrived and found the body of a local man his 40s.

"The area has been cordoned off while officers identify how the man died.

"At this stage, the death is being treated as unexplained."