A WOMAN whose body was recovered from the River Wear in Sunderland has been identified as a student at the city's university.

A police spokesman said Rose King, 22, of Newcastle, was a first-year student at the University of Sunderland.

Ms King was reported missing by her family on Sunday, May 3, after they became concerned they had not heard from her for a while.

She was living in student accommodation in Sunderland. She had been last been heard from on Wednesday, April 29, at 2.40pm when she sent an email.

Police made inquiries after her body was found in the River Wear at 7.30am on Thursday, April 30.

Detective Sergeant Angus Grassie, of Northumbria Police, said: "This is a very sad time for Rose's family and friends and our sympathies are very much with them now.

"We still need to find out how Rose came to be in the river and the events that led up to her death.

“We'd appeal for anyone who knows Rose or remembers seeing her in her turquoise fleece at the riverside between the afternoon of Wednesday, April 29, and the early morning of Thursday, April 30, to contact police straightaway so we can piece together what has happened."

Ms King is described as being 5ft 7ins, of slim build with brown shoulder length hair.

She was wearing a turquoise green Regatta fleece with a Regatta brand logo at front left side, a red white and blue checked shirt from Topshop with a black vest underneath.

She was also wearing dark-coloured denim skinny jeans from H&M with a thin black belt and light brown lace up ankle boots with zip at the back.

Officers are continuing to make inquiries into how Rose came to be in the River Wear and are appealing for anyone with any information to contact them.

Anyone with information should contact Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 quoting reference number 1127 01/05/15.