A BODY found in a town centre park has been identified.

Police have confirmed that the body found is that of missing man, John Alan Saunders.

Police were called to the River Skerne at Parkside, South Park, at around 9.20am on Thursday, December 6, after a member of the public discovered a body.

He was pronounced dead at the scene and an area of Parkside was sealed off with people asked to leave the scene around the riverbank and main entrance to South Park while officers worked at the site.

A Durham Police spokeswoman said: “Police can confirm that a body found in the River Skerne, in Darlington, is that of missing man, John Alan Saunders.

“The body was found by a member of the public at around 9.20am yesterday (December 6).

“Following a post-mortem examination, officers are satisfied that the cause of his death is not suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

“Our thoughts are with John’s family during this difficult time.”

Police appealed for help to find Mr Saunders after he was last seen at the 700 Club on Grange Road at around 2.40pm on November 28 and was not heard from since.