Hopes were fading last night over the chances of finding missing Devonshire man Raymond Howes alive after a body washed up on Devonshire Bay.

Mr. Howes, a 49-year-old tiler from Mary Victoria Road, Prospect was last seen at the MarketPlace store on Church Street in Hamilton at 3 p.m. on Friday.

A full scale hunt was launched after his motorbike was found abandoned at Spittal Pond late on Sunday evening.

Police have yet to confirm the identity of the body which was found in an advanced state of decomposition face up, naked and wearing just one shoe, half a mile away from Spittal Pond yesterday.

A Police spokesman added that foul play cannot be ruled out until the body has been identified.

The grisly discovery was made by beachcomber Kenneth Pearman who was alerted by a strange smell as he gathered seaweed at the quiet cove yesterday morning.

He told The Royal Gazette: "When I came it was dark but when daylight came I discovered the body. I was a little terrified. I went close to make sure it was a body."

The find also came as a shock to masonry worker Denis Jay, 48, who spoke to The Royal Gazette at the cloud-shrouded Devonshire beauty spot as the Police forensic team began their work.

He said he had known Mr. Howes for years and had recently caught up with him again when he worked alongside him on a building job.

"I was walking my dog and a fellow down on the beach said there was a body," he said.

"It's a terrible, sickly feeling when someone told me who it might be."

He described Mr. Howes as a hard worker with a sunny disposition and he wondered if he had fallen off a rock while fishing.

"He was very cheerful guy and smiley. I don't think it was suicide. His work had been on the up."

Also at the scene yesterday was Leonard Moniz who said the body must have recently washed up.

"I walked that beach at 11 last night," he said.

Several people told The Royal Gazette Mr. Howes had a twin who had died in tragic circumstances in the United States years ago.

Last night neighbour Jean Howes, who lives a few doors down from Mr. Howes in the tight-knit Prospect community, said she hoped Mr. Howes, who is no relation, would turn up alive.

She said: "He's a very nice fellow, I miss him. Every night when I go round the block with my dog he always calls out when I pass his house.

"He was always outside doing something. He was a good worker, very dependable. I can't imagine it was suicide."

The missing man is described as dark-brown skinned, 5 feet 5 inches tall, of slim build and with close-cut dark brown hair. Mr. Howes was wearing a plaid shirt and dark blue trousers when he was last seen.

qAnyone with any information on Mr. Howes, pictured right, or his present whereabouts is asked to contact the Juvenile and Domestic Crime Unit on 295-0011.