POLICE searching for a missing Stockton man have found a body in the sea off Redcar.

"Police and colleagues from the Harbour Police and Coastguard sadly discovered a man’s body in the water off South Gare yesterday afternoon, Friday, March 10," said a spokesman for Cleveland Police.

"While formal identification has yet to take place, the family of missing 35-year-old Stockton man, Alan Smith, has been informed.

"Our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends at this very difficult time."

Crews from Redcar RNLI also took part in the search, with lifeboats being launched at around 1.30pm on Friday between the North Gare and Marske.

A stretch of the River Tees was also searched.

A Redcar RNLI spokesman said: "While the lifeboats were searching, police and coastguard officers ashore discovered the body of a man close to the shoreline at South Gare.

"Crew members from the lifeboats assisted police and coastguard officers in transferring the man into the Redcar inshore lifeboat, which then transported him to a nearby slipway and placed him into the care of police officers."

A crowdfunding page has since been set up by those who knew Mr Smith, who has been described as an "amazing, kind and caring man".