A BODY recovered from the River Foss by police was that of a 20-year-old man from York.

North Yorkshire Police said there are no suspicious circumstances and a report is being prepared for the coroner.

Officers first searched the Foss off Fossgate and Piccadilly after receiving a call at 11.40pm on Thursday night reporting a person in distress in the river.

Divers from the Yorkshire Underwater Search Team were at the scene yesterday morning (Friday).

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “We can confirm the underwater search unit have recovered the body of man from the River Foss.

"We are not yet in a position to identify the man.”

His family are said to be “shocked and distressed.”

Earlier, a North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “Police received a call from a member of the public at around 11.40pm yesterday reporting that they believed there was a man in the River Foss near Merchant Hall in the Piccadilly area of York.

"Searches were conducted of the river and the bank, with the assistance of the fire service, for several hours overnight.

“Enquiries have resumed today and the under-water search unit are expected to commence searches this morning.”