POLICE are still to formally identify a body found in the River Wear as tributes are being posted on a website for a woman who has been missing for five months.

Police last night confirmed that the family of Leanne Chambers have been informed of developments, but said it was too early to say if the body was hers.

The 30-year-old, who was being treated for depression, disappeared from the home she shares with boyfriend Steven Crossland, in Anchorage, Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, February 23.

Her purse and coat were found in the River Wear, in the town’s Riverside Park, and her mobile phone was found on a bench nearby.

The Northumbria Police marine unit carried out a number of searches of the River Wear at the time, but without success.

The family’s hopes were raised when a taxi driver contacted police weeks later to say he saw a woman answering Ms Chambers description near a village in South Wales in the fortnight after her disappearance.

But South Wales Police, who put out a bulletin through Crimestoppers, drew a blank.

On Wednesday, at about 8.40pm, police received a report from a member of the public about a body in the River Wear in Cox Green, between Penshaw and Sunderland.

The body was removed in the early hours of Thursday.

Ms Chambers is originally from Shildon, County Durham, where her family last night declined to comment.

However, a Northumbrian Police spokesman said: “The body has not been formally identified. A post-mortem is expected to be held in the next couple of days. We cannot comment further until then.”

He said that officers were examining files of persons reported missing from home.

Members of the force are liaising with colleagues at neighbouring Durham.

A spokesman said: “Leanne Chambers’ family have been informed of developments but, until there is official confirmation of identity, we cannot comment any further.”

Two pages set up on Facebook seeking information about Ms Chambers have attracted thousands of members.

Since the discovery of the body, several messages have been posted paying tribute to her, despite the lack of formal identification.

One reads: “This is so sad.

Leanne you were such a happy bubbly girl and great to be around at work.

“Whenever you walked into a room you brought a smile with you. Goodnight Leanne I hope you are at peace now.”

Ms Chambers, who worked with her boyfriend at car parts supplier Calsonic Kansei when she went missing, used to work as a sales representative for Newsquest, publisher of The Northern Echo.

Ms Chambers is 5ft 7in and slim. When she disappeared, she was wearing a grey hooded top, black leggings and Ugg boots.