POLICE dredged a river after reports of a body — only to find a mannequin.
A head had been spotted in the water by workers clearing weeds at a former social club.
Cops cordoned off the area on Monday in Thurrock, Essex.
But they saw the funny side when they pulled out an old dummy, which they hosed down and posed with.
A local said: “We couldn’t believe it.
“We thought it was some bloke who’d been killed and thrown in the river.”
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Pegasus Sports and Social Club was bought last month for redevelopment by Alfie Best, 52, dubbed “Britain’s richest gypsy”.
He said: “I got a call at 4.30 and was extremely worried someone might have died in the lake trying to get into the development.
“I’m just so pleased no one lost their life.”
