Mental health patient found dead

A man has been found dead after police tried to talk him out of his locked home early on Wednesday morning.

The 36-year-old mental health patient had been home on an unsupervised visit when he locked the doors to his home in Atwood Close, Colchester, Essex.

A friend called the police who talked to the man for five hours until he broke off contact. Officers broke in and found the man hanging.

The force has passed the incident to the Police Complaints Authority.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

The dead man's name will be released later.