A BODY found in Australian mountains is believed to be that of a 23-year-old man with strong links to the region.

Gary Tweddle, whose father is from Hartlepool, has been missing since July after going climbing and walking in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales.

Police have located a body lying in a rocky area  and expect to recover it in the coming hours.

Mr Tweddle had made telephoned friends to say he was lost but no-one has been able to get hold of him since July 15.

Mr Tweddle's father, David Tweddle originally from Hartlepool, and his stepmother, Michelle, flew out to Australia from the UK to join in the search.

The young Englishman moved to Australia from Reading with his mother and family some years ago and worked for a computer company.

Gary's partner Annika Haigh said in a Facebook post on Sunday that police were treating her boyfriend's disappearance as accidental death, and a report had been handed to the coroner.

Writing on Facebook last week, Mr Tweddle’s mother, Carol Streatfield, said: “We are a strong family. We work together and stay very strong as we have Gary’s younger sister and brothers to focus on, who Gary loved very much.”

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are aware of reports that a body has been found. We are making inquiries."

His grandparents, Phoebe and Dev Tweddle were well known in Hartlepool as landlords of two pubs in the town. Mr Tweddle still has relatives in the area.