THE body of a man has been found at an NHS clinic in Newcastle.

Northumbria Police says it believes the body, discovered in a secure area at the city's Hadrian Clinic, is that of missing man Gary Smith, who was last seen on March 31.

Mr Smith, 52, and from the Wideopen area, was last seen in the Westgate Road area of Newcastle around 8.30pm.

"At 3.33pm on Friday, April 25, officers received a report of a body having been found in a secure area within the Hadrian Clinic on the West Road in Newcastle," a force spokesman said.

It is understood a formal identification is yet to take place, but officers are confident the body is that of Mr Smith.

"Mr Smith's family have been informed and we are currently working with the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust to establish the circumstances around the death.

"At this stage there is not believed to be any third party involvement in the death and a report is being prepared for coroner."