POLICE officers have today launched an investigation after the body of a man was discovered in fields near to Bury St Edmunds.

Suffolk Police were called at 2.38pm this afternoon by a member of the public reporting that they had found a body in field adjacent to Appledown Drive in the town.

Police officers were in attendance today and the area is being cordoned off while police conduct investigations and recover the body.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said the body is male and inquiries are in hand to identify the deceased.

Police are looking at the possibility that the body may be that of missing Bury St Edmunds man Shaun Alcock, 38, who went missing from his home in the town on Thursday.

The spokeswoman said the death is currently being treated as unexplained but added at this stage there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances.

A post mortem will be conducted in due course.

Anyone will any information in relation to this incident should contact Suffolk Police on 01473 613500.