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The body of a child has been recovered from the River Ribble following a search for a 12-year-old boy who went missing while swimming with friends in the river at Ribchester

The body of a child has been recovered from the River Ribble in Lancashire.

Lancashire Police said the body is believed to be that of a 12-year-old boy who got into difficulty while swimming with friends in the river at Ribchester on Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the village in the Ribble Valley shortly after 2pm following reports of concern for the welfare of a child. A large-scale search was launched involving Lancashire Police’s underwater search unit and crews from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. The North West Ambulance Service also attended the incident.

Lancashire Police confirmed that the body of a child was recovered at around 7.50pm. While formal identification has not yet taken place, officers believe it to be the missing boy.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to HM Coroner in due course. The boy’s family is being supported by specially trained officers.

The force said: "Our thoughts are very much with his loved ones at this extremely distressing time."

Pictures from the scene earlier showed the road beside the river cordoned off as emergency crews searched the water.

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