A 12-year-old boy has drowned in a river in north-east London in a “deeply tragic incident”.

Emergency services were called to Hackney Marshes after the boy was seen entering the River Lea at about 6pm on Saturday.

The Metropolitan Police said divers recovered the boy’s body just after midnight on Sunday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

His next of kin have been told.

Mayor of Hackney Zoe Garbett said she was “heartbroken” to learn of the boy’s death.

“All of our thoughts are with the child’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time,” she added.

“This is a devastating loss for our community, and I know many will be feeling a deep sense of shock and sadness. The boy’s family will need time to grieve this unimaginable loss, so please respect their privacy.

“I want to thank the emergency services for their rapid response and the extensive efforts they made throughout the night.”

The detective leading the investigation said the boy’s death was a “deeply tragic incident“.

“Our thoughts are with the boy’s family, friends and the wider community,” Det Insp Azmeen Pinnu added.

“We also make a plea to the public to avoid speculation and refrain from sharing distressing material online out of respect for the family and to preserve the investigation.

“This incident is now being investigated on behalf of the coroner, and inquiries remain ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened.”