A BODY discovered in a field near Wisbech yesterday is believed to be that of Andrew Collingwood, a local man who was reporting missing on August 18.

Police were alerted yesterday morning by passers by after the body was discovered in Begdale Road, Elm, shortly after 10.15am

Sheila Woodhouse, Andrew’s mother, had appealed at the weekend for information after he had been missing for a week.

She said Andrew had left home on Saturday August 18 on his blue and white push bike wearing only his shorts and a tee shirt.

“Andrew, also know as Ed, suffers from epilepsy and has been without his medication since leaving,” she said.

Police said today that confirmation was awaited once the coroner had conducted a post mortem.

A police spokesman said each decision on whether to issue an appeal for a missing person is taken carefully and periodically reviewed.

He said police “get reports every day of people missing from homes and the majority are in there 20s, 30s, and 40s. Only if they’re young or vulnerable – with mental health issues for example- would be automatically put out an appeal”.

It is thought that Mr Collingwood was not considered to be at enough risk for an appeal to be issued.