AN URGENT search of Southend seafront sparked by the discovery of a pile of clothes on the sea wall has been stood down.

Police, the coastguard and volunteer members of the RNLI lifeboat service were called to the shore end of Southend pier, in Western Esplanade, at around noon today after the items were found.

After a thorough search of the area failed to discover anything untoward, the search teams were stood down at 2.40pm.

It is not yet clear whether the incident was a genuine call or a hoax but police are continuing their investigations.