A POLICE helicopter, the Southend inshore lifeboat and coastguard scoured the area's coastline for a missing male overnight, who was later found safely on shore.

Southend police requested assistance with their search at 12.37am this morning.

The police helicopter, Southend Coastguard and the RNLI's inshore lifeboat searched the stretch of coastline from Two Tree Island, Leigh, along to East Beach in Shoebury.

The lifeboat was stood down at approximately 4am and returned to station after the missing male was found safe on shore.