POLICE searching for a missing Durham University student have removed a body from the River Wear.

Euan Coulthard, 19, was last seen leaving the Loveshack nightspot in Durham City on Wednesday, January 14.

CCTV from the night Mr Coulthard disappeared shows a man police believe to be the law student, who is from Nottingham, crossing the bridge and then heading down steps towards the river.

This morning the area around Framwelgate Bridge in the city centre was cordoned off while police and rescue teams worked to recover the body.

In a statement, Durham Police said: "Police divers searching the river Wear in Durham City have recovered a body believed to be that of missing student Euan Coulthard.

"At around 9:15 this morning police responded to a call from a member of the public saying they had seen a body in the river.

"Specialist police divers began a search of the river, near to Framwellgate Bridge and the body was recovered.

"A post mortem examination will take place later.

"A formal identification is yet to take place however Euan’s family have been informed of the developments."

Following his disappearance, fellow students and friends joined police officers in extensive searches of the city centre.

A petition to improve riverbank safety has also been launched as, in the last 15 months, Sope Peters and Luke Pearce, also students at Durham University, drowned in the river after nights out.