POLICE have launched an anniversary appeal for help in identifying a body found in a river.

The body of the man, thought to be in his 40s, was discovered in the River Lea in December last year but officers have not been able to establish who he is.

The corpse was found near Abbey Lane in Stratford, close to the Olympic site, but he may be from Enfield and the river runs through the borough before reaching that area.

He is described as white, around 5ft 9ins tall and of medium build. He had blue eyes, collar length black/greying hair receding on the top and he was unshaven.

There are no tattoos on his body, although the man has two, one-centimetre, surgical scars on the front of the left knee and two piercings in the left ear.

He was dressed in a white Urban Spirit T-shirt with the number "37" on the front, a blue "Originals" jumper, black Urban Spirit jeans in a size 30, white socks and a pair of size nine black Groundwork safety boots.

DS Gerard Healy, of Newham Missing Persons Unit, said: "We are determined to find out the identity of this man and hope this anniversary appeal will help us do just that.

"If you think you know who he is or if you know of someone who is missing who matches this description please call us straight away on 020 7275 5728."