Police have confirmed the body discovered in south Canterbury last night was a man.
A hearse left the cordoned area on Drain Rd in Doyleston earlier this afternoon. Drain Rd ends near the water front of Lake Ellesmere, where the body was found.
Police are yet to fully identify the man after working through the night and today.
A guarded cordon remains in place at the intersection of Drain Rd and The Lake Rd. Around 600 metres down from here yellow markers have been placed.
Police have been concentrating on an area about 100 metres from the cordon, where two officers were knee deep in the ditch on the right side of the road, wading through the water with bins. The gorse on the opposite side of the road was also searched with sticks.
Police say they're only focusing on the road area, not surrounding farmland.
A hearse leaving the cordon on Drain Rd (Emma Cropper)
Local woman Lynda Fletcher says she can't believe what's happened.
"It's a worry, I've got five grandchilden around the corner that play out on the road," she says.
Her eldest grandchild wasn't able to sleep all night after learning about the body.
She says the community is like "family" and is worried it might be someone from the area.
Police investigating the drain (Emma Cropper)
Another local Bruce Barnett says the body's discovery is "a bit shocking".
"Particularly out here, it's pretty quiet [and] a rural community," he says.
He thought other locals would be quite "horrified" by the discovery but had faith the police would solve the mystery.
Police are asking anyone to come forward who could help them identify the body.
Anyone with information can call police 03 363 7400 or anonymously through CrimeStoppers on 0800 555 111.
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