A BODY has been found following a major sea search for a missing kayaker who capsized off the Essex coast.

Emergency services were called to Beach Way in Jaywick, near Clacton, at 5.20pm on Sunday following reports a kayaker – a man in his 20s – had come into difficulty and capsized.

His kayak was found “washed up” close to Lion Point earlier in the evening.

The search was called off after a body, believed to be that of the missing man, was found on Sunday night as the tide receded, close to where the kayaker had gone missing.

A Clacton RNLI spokesman said: “A body was recovered from the sea close to Lion Point, where the man had gone missing.

"The thoughts of the crew are with the man's family at this time."

He added: "The kayaker was seen by his family to have capsized.

"His kayak was recovered shortly afterwards, but he wasn’t with it.

"The lifeboat crew were already at the station, so were quickly on the scene.

“Clacton RNLI, Essex Police and the Coastguard were all involved in the search for him.”

At the same time a woman came into difficulty near Clacton Pier in an unrelated incident.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the UK Coastguard had been coordinating a search for a kayaker.

It added: "Rescue units involved in the search are the coastguard rescue helicopter from Lydd, coastguard rescue teams from Clacton and Walton, Clacton RNLI lifeboat and police and ambulance.

"Coastguard rescue officers recovered a body late last night."