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Emergency services have urged people to avoid part of a beach in Essex after what the coastguard rescue team has described as a “tragic incident”.

The West Mersea Coastguard Rescue Team said on Facebook early on Thursday that they had been called to an incident near Seaview Avenue in West Mersea, Colchester, on Wednesday evening.

“We have responded to a tragic incident on West Mersea beach. Our thoughts are with the family involved,” the post said, adding they would not be making any further comment.

Pictures show a huge emergency services presence on West Mersea beach in Essex on Wednesday evening, and a cordon remains in place on Thursday morning.

The nature of the incident has not been disclosed.

Essex Police said in a Facebook post: “While we remain on scene, we would ask the public to avoid the Seaview Avenue and beach area.

“We appreciate that this will cause some local issues, but would ask for your patience and understanding as we may be there for some time yet.”

Carl Powling, Conservative councillor for Mersea and Pyefleet, told BBC Essex: "Without knowing exactly what's happened there, it's very difficult to speculate but people are very concerned.

"It's definitely a tragic incident and it does highlight the dangers of the tidal area we live in and the sea and what can happen."

Local MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said he is "sad and very shocked" about the incident in a statement to the BBC.

"We don't think of West Mersea Beach as a dangerous beach,” he said.

"I mean, there are tidal currents but thousands of people use it as this time of year and generally feels like a very safe place.

"We don't have the details of what happened... clearly, something unusual occurred but we'll have to wait and see what it was."

This is a breaking story. More to follow...