Detectives and forensic investigators have combed the scene behind a Bradford pub where the body of a missing man was found.

A lone police officer discovered the body of Myles Nesbitt, 40, in grounds behind the Royal Oak in Sticker Lane, Laisterdyke, at 10am yesterday.

It followed extensive searches by 70 officers for Mr Nesbitt, who suffered from health problems and took medication and had been reported missing on Sunday from his home in Woolcombers Way, Laisterdyke. His death is not believed to be suspicious.

A police cordon stretched from the public footpath connecting the Royal Oak to The Furnace pub on Bowling Back Lane. Workers on the nearby industrial estate said they had no idea about what had happened until the police turned up.

Harry Davey, who has run the Furnace Pub for 12 years, spoke of his shock. He said he had not heard or seen anything out of the ordinary.

Mr Davey said: “They said they found a body in the backyard of the Royal Oak. I was shocked. They had been looking all over the place.”

It is unclear whether Mr Nesbitt was found in the pub’s outbuilding or in the actual garden of the pub, which was shrouded in white sheeting as forensic investigators tried to establish exactly what led to his death.

A man who works near the site, but who did not want to be named, said police had searched the site on Tuesday, before returning yesterday morning when they found Mr Nesbitt.

Speaking yesterday as the body was found, he said: “I saw about 20 police officers, an ambulance and the coroner.

“There is quite a lot of rubbish strewn round the back of the Oak pub and people use that alleyway daily.”

A Bradford South police spokesman said: “Inquiries are ongoing to ascertain the full circumstances of his death, however we are confident at this stage that there are no suspicious circumstances. We offer our sincere condolences to his family and thank the media and members of the public for their assistance during the search.”