The body of a North Yorkshire teenager who plunged into a fast-flowing river in the Italian Alps was found early today, the Foreign Office said.

Alex Foulkes, 17, was on a trekking expedition with classmates from Harrogate Grammar School when he was reported missing on Monday.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: ''We can confirm that Alex's body was found early this morning and formal identification has taken place.''

A consular official from Milan was heading to the Val d'Aosta area ''to meet with his parents and provide them with help and support at this sad time'', the spokeswoman added.

Staff and pupils at the school had been desperately hoping he would be found safe and well.

The sixth-former's parents, who are from Harrogate, had flown to Italy as hopes faded that he would be found alive.

He had arrived in the country on Saturday for a 14-day trip with 11 other students from the school, who were expected to return home today.

Alex was crossing the river when he fell in and a helicopter was dispatched to search for him but could find only his jacket and one of his shoes.

The incident happened at Valgrisenche, near the French border, while the party were walking through picturesque foothills after a day at a mountain refuge.

Alan Reuter, a British consular spokesman, said then: ''The parents are here and we are offering them consular assistance and are looking after them.

''He was out walking with his classmates when he fell into the river and that is as much as we know. The guide who was with them was British. We expect most of the party to fly home on Wednesday but the parents will stay on out in Italy.''

A spokeswoman for his school said yesterday: ''Harrogate Grammar School spent the day trying to confirm precise information regarding Alex Foulkes, aged 17, a lower sixth student reported missing while on a trekking mission in the Italian Alps.

''Alex was a member of a 12-strong party from the Grammar School who travelled to Italy last Saturday, July 12, for a 14-day expedition.

''The local mountain rescue team was called out but suspended its search in failing light on Monday evening. Search was resumed at first light today.

The expedition had been taking place in the Val d'Aosta area and had been arranged through Exodus Travel in London, she added.

In a statement, headteacher Philip Limbert said: ''The school is still coming to terms with the news, which has stunned us all. We are trying to gather information from Italy and keep everyone informed about the situation.

''Our hopes and prayers are with Alex's family.''

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the force would be offering help to the school and family and liaising with police in Italy.