Merseyside Police have confirmed that detectives trying to trace missing 46-year-old Derek Jones from Leasowe are carrying out inquiries after the discovery of a man’s body on land off Leasowe Road this afternoon.

The body has not been formally identified and tests are being carried out to establish the identity of the man.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances and a post-mortem examination will be carried out in due course to establish the cause of death.

Mr Jones was last seen leaving his home in Leasowe at around 1.40pm on Thursday, January 8.