POLICE, firefighters and ambulance staff are engaged in an operation to recover two bodies from the Thames riverbank in Grays.

Emergency services were contacted at just before 7.30am today (Thursday 13 February), following reports that a body of a woman had been discovered in the river at Wharf Road South, close to the Wharf pub.

Officers and paramedics attended the scene but the woman was pronounced dead.

While at the scene, officers discovered a second body.

At this time the deaths are not believed to be linked and are being treated as separate incidents.

Police, paramedics, fire crews and the Coastguard remain at the scene. Forensic officers have also gone onto the rocks and adjacent mudflats to recover evidence.

Volunteers from the RNLI are also on the river in case they are needed.