A BODY has been found by police searching for man who has been missing from home for almost a month.

Northumbria Police confirmed that although formal identification has yet to be made, the body found on Saturday is believed to be that of David Bennett, who was last seen by his mother, Carol, at her Shiney Row home, on Wearside, at about 8pm, on Saturday August 18.

As he had failed to return either to Mrs Bennett’s home, or that of his father, Charlie, elsewhere in Shiney Row, in the following few days, he was reported missing to police.

The discovery of the body came on the weekend that a renewed appeal was made by police and the family, four weeks after the 30-year-old factory worker mysteriously disappeared.

A statement issued by the force, on Sunday afternoon, stated: “Police searching for missing Sunderland man have sadly found a body.

“David Bennett, 30, was reported missing on Tuesday (August 21) and inquiries have been ongoing to locate him.

“Police appealed for help from the public to locate him but yesterday (September 15) officers found a body.

“Formal identification is yet to take place, but police believe it to be David.

“Officers are supporting his friends and family at what is an incredibly difficult time.

“Both they and police want to thank members of the public who share the appeal.”

The statement added: “There is not believed to be any third-party involvement.”

Earlier on the weekend police reissued their request as to Mr Bennett’s whereabouts.

There was a single report of a possible sighting of him by a member of the public who believed they may have seen him, in Weymouth Drive, Shiney Row, shortly after 1am on Sunday August 19.

But, that was the last reported sighting, amid growing despair for Mrs Bennett and daughter, David’s older sister, Clare Lowes.

Urging the public to come forward with information as to his whereabouts, Sergeant Rob Bagshaw, of the Northumbria force, said it was, “really out of character”, for him not to keep in regular contact with his family.

He was said to have left his mother’s home after she made a short visit outside to put some rubbish in the bin.

But, initially his mother believed he may have gone to the home of his father, where he usually stayed.

Sunderland AFC agreed to the family’s request to help publicise his disappearance by displaying his face, with appeal details, on big screens before the last home game at the Stadium of Light, against Fleetwood Town, on September 8.

Members of his family and friends issued flyers to fans arriving at the ground.

A report has now been passed to the Sunderland coroner's office.