The badly decomposed remains were found by a passer-by on the Chesil Beach near Portland Beach Road, Portland, on Sunday morning.

Dorset Police are now checking missing person files to try to identify the dead man and find out how long he had been in the water.

A police spokesman said: "We can confirm that the death is not being treated as suspicious and inquiries are continuing to identify him."

The victim is described as a white man between 5ft 8ins and 5ft 10ins and was wearing blue jeans and black socks.

An inquest will be opened and adjourned early next week.