A BODY has been recovered near Darlington during a search to locate a missing woman.

A 49-year-old woman was last seen at her family home in Darlington at 9.20pm last night, Thursday.

Just before 11.15pm, her black Land Rover Freelander was found in Middleton One Row, near Darlington, next to a path leading down to the river.

Officers from Durham Constabulary and volunteers from Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue team carried out a search and sadly, at 8.25am this morning, a body was discovered in the river.

A spokesman for Durham Police said there are no suspicious circumstances.

A formal identification has yet to take place, but the family of the missing woman have been informed.