MEMBERS of the public, who were assisting the search for a 10-year-old boy in the River Severn, have discovered a body.

The body of a young male was found at around 9.45 this morning in the river near Arlingham, approximately 400 yards up stream of The Passage Inn, on the east bank of the river.

Police and ambulance are at the scene, and the coroner has been informed.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Police said: "The missing boy, who comes from the Gloucester area, had been playing on mud flats at Arlingham at around 8pm on Sunday, July 27, when he fell into deep water.

"Two of his friends made unsuccessful efforts to rescue him, and the alarm was raised.

"An extensive search commenced, which was conducted jointly by the Police, the Fire Service, the Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA), the Coastguard, and the county helicopter.

"The search continued into the early hours of Monday, July 28, and resumed again at 5am."

Police are appealing for any anyone who may have information about the boy’s disappearance to contact them on 0845 090 1234, quoting incident number 555 of July 27.