Metropolitan Police officers were out conducting a search at 8.20am this morning (October 18) in Launders Lane after receiving a missing persons case on October 17.
The case was passed over to the force following contact from Essex Police on October 16.
During the search, officers recovered the body of a man.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and has yet to be identified.
Launders Lane is closed in both directions between Lambs Lane and Wennington Road.
Police have blocked the entrance to Launders Lane from New Road since the discovery was made this morning.
A spokesperson for the Met said: “The body of a man has been recovered from Launders Lane, Rainham.
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“Met officers found the body as part of proactive searches at around 08:20hrs on Saturday, 18 October.
“This followed contact from Essex Police on Friday, 16 October in relation to a missing person they were investigating. This investigation was passed to the Met on Friday, 17 October.
“The man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries are underway to identify the man and to inform his next of kin.”
