Police searching for a soldier who went missing after spending the night with friends say they have found a body.

Liam Potts, 22, who served with the Coldstream Guards, was last seen heading towards Wylam in Northumberland from Wylam Bridge at about 00:20 BST on Saturday.

Specialist officers from Northumbria Police's Marine Unit have now recovered a body from the River Tyne close to the bridge.

Det Ch Insp Sarah Robson said: "This is an extremely sad development and our thoughts are very much with Liam's family and friends."

Robson said: "I would like to thank all of our officers, partners and volunteers for their assistance throughout the searches, along with everyone who shared our appeals and contacted us with information.

"We would continue to ask that people respect the family's privacy at this tragic time."

Officers do not believe there to be any third-party involvement and a report will be prepared for the coroner, the force added.

Police said they had received a report of a disturbance at a nearby premises and a subsequent crash on the bridge involving a vehicle and a group of pedestrians.

A man and woman, both in their 20s, were seriously injured in the crash.

Officers said Liam was on the bridge at the time of the collision but he was not in the vehicle, nor was he believed to have been injured.

Two men, aged 22 and 23, have been arrested in connection with the report and both have been bailed pending further inquiries.

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