Marina Body Identified

5 February 2013, 10:38 | Updated: 5 February 2013, 10:48

A body found in a marina on the Hertfordshire/Essex border has been confirmed as that of a man from Luton who went missing at a work Christmas party.

Ed Gillespie, 38, (right) was last seen at Roydon Marina in the early hours of Saturday 22 December 2012.  The alarm was raised when he failed to return to his home in Luton.

Ed's glasses were found in the period between Christmas and New Year, following searches of the area.  A body was pulled from the marina on Saturday 26 January 2013.

An inquest into Ed's death has been opened and adjourned by the Essex Coroner.

Ed's mum, Jane Gillespie, has released a statement through Essex Police saying: "No words can express my feelings at the moment. I doubt if I will ever come to terms with the loss of Ed but I have drawn some small comfort over the past weeks from the kindness and help that so many people have shown me.

"I would like to thank the police for everything they have done since Ed first went missing and everyone else who helped in the search for him. I would also like to thank people for their thoughts and prayers and the support of all Edward's friends."