Death at Colchester St John's Car Park 'very shocking'

Essex Police officers were called to St John's Car Park on Wednesday morning after a Colchester Council employee discovered a body.

The car park’s entrances in Southway and St John’s Street were cordoned off by officers throughout the day, with drivers unable to return to their vehicles in the morning.

Cordon - entrance to the car park in the St John's shopping precinct was blocked off (Image: Newsquest)

LIVE UPDATES: Colchester car park cordoned off as 'body found' by council worker

A spokesman for the police said: “We are investigating after a man’s body was discovered at a car park in Colchester.

"We were called to concerns for the welfare of a man at St Johns Car Park shortly after 8.30am on Wednesday. 

"Sadly, the man, aged in his 30s, was found deceased at the scene.

"The man’s death is currently being treated as unexpected and our investigation into his death is ongoing.

"His family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

"The car park has since been reopened to the public."

On scene - police cars off St John's Street (Image: Newsquest)

The Gazette understands the top floors of the car park were closed after the incident, before the whole car park was closed soon after.

Motorists who had used the car park earlier in the day reported they had eventually been able to leave the car park after being escorted to their cars by police officers.

Councillor Richard Kirkby-Taylor said: “It is a very shocking discovery. I hope that the council employee who found the body is doing ok and that we make sure they receive any support that they need.

“Likewise, once the individual has been identified, my thoughts go out to their family and I hope that they will receive the support that is needed.”

Investigation - police officers in St John's Street (Image: Newsquest)

He added: “I urge anyone who knows anything about this event or what happened or could provide any additional information to get in touch with the police, anonymously if they feel the need.

"We need to find out what’s happened here.”

Fellow city centre councillor Steph Nissen said, although the council is assisting the police, the authority must give the force the space to "conduct their investigation".

She added: "As a community, we mustn’t think there’s an outbreak of violence. We’re a community and violence won’t divide us, but we currently don’t know if this was an act of violence.”

She confirmed police remained at the scene just before 5pm.