Tributes after body found in search for soldier

BBC Eleven bouquets of flowers are tied to the metal railings of a bridge over a river. They are of various bright colours and wrapped in plastic. There is also a white card attached, but the writing is too small to be made out. There are tall, green trees bordering the water below.BBC
Flowers were placed on Wylam Bridge after a body was found on Tuesday

Flowers have been placed at a bridge over the River Tyne after a body was found in the water.

Northumbria Police were searching for missing soldier Liam Potts, 22, who served with the Coldstream Guards and was last seen heading towards Wylam in Northumberland in the early hours of Saturday.

Specialist officers recovered a body close to Wylam Bridge on Tuesday afternoon. The force said formal identification had yet to take place but Liam's next of kin had been notified.

People have expressed their condolences on social media, describing the news as "absolutely heartbreaking".

Further online tributes read "RIP young man" and "just a boy with a life ahead".

While notes left on the bridge read: "Rest in peace."

A close up of a bouquet of flowers which are orange, white, green, red and purple. The blue and white note card is poking up from behind the heads of the flowers. The top line reads: "Rest in peace." It is wrapped in clear plastic with a yellow striped design on it.
Teams searched the river after Liam failed to return from a night out with friends

Searches began after the 22-year-old did not return home from a night out with friends.

Agencies involved included the coastguard and mountain rescue teams, as well as Liam's family and friends.

Police said officers did not believe there to be any third-party involvement and said a report was to be prepared for the coroner.

Earlier, the force 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 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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