A body has been found in the search for a missing Durham man. 

Emergency services flooded the Old Elvet Bridge, in Durham city centre, shortly before 10am on Friday after a body was located. 

A cordon was erected across the bridge, with pictures showing a string of police, fire and ambulance vehicles parked at the scene around 1pm. 

Tragically, Durham Constabulary has confirmed that a body was found in the search for a man named only as Paul, from Durham, who went missing from his home in the Sherburn Road area on Saturday. 

A cordon was erected across the bridgeA cordon was erected across the bridge (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Formal identification is yet to take place, but the family of the 51-year-old have been informed and his death is being treated as non-suspicious. 

Residents have described their shock after seeing the large-scale emergency response, with police taping off a footpath down to the river at the time of the incident. 

One woman, visiting from Stoke with her husband, told The Northern Echo: "We were just in the cafe drinking our tea when the police started to roll up.

"We didn’t expect anything like this to happen. From what people are saying, it’s just terrible”.

A full statement from the force said: "We are sad to report that a body has been found in the search for missing Durham man Paul.

"Formal identification has yet to take place, but the family of the 51-year-old have been informed. At this stage, the death is being treated as non-suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

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"Our thoughts are with his family and friends."

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We were called to an incident today (19 July) to a private address in Stanley shortly before 10am.

"We dispatched one ambulance crew, one clinical team leader and were supported by our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service. One patient was taken to University Hospital of North Durham."