POLICE and search teams descended on a beauty spot over the weekend as the body of a pensioner was discovered.

Concerns were raised about Norman Binks on Thursday night after he took a taxi to the sewerage works at Broken Scar, in Darlington, at about 5pm, and had not been seen since.

The 79-year-old Darlington pensioner had been in good health until recently, when he suffered a stroke and then started receiving treatment for depression.

The alarm was raised when he left a heartfelt letter for his best friend, which police thought could have been a suicide note.

Dozens of police, mountain rescue and underwater search team members scoured the Broken Scar beauty spot, which runs next to the River Tees, over the weekend.

Mountain rescue teams from County Durham joined in the search, and at about 11am yesterday, his body was found and removed from the scene.

Acting Sergeant Caroline Davies, of Darlington police, said: "A taxi driver who took Mr Binks to Broken Scar is believed to be the last person to see him.

"His best friend contacted us and expressed concern about him after a note was left.

"Obviously, all bodies we find are initially treated as suspicious but, in this case, we are pretty convinced, having seen the note that he has left, that this was a case of suicide.

"But an inquest will be held to determine that."

She said that about 16 members of the mountain rescue team were out on Saturday looking for Mr Binks, and they were joined by Northumbria Police's underwater search team.

Acting Sgt Davies said: "On Saturday, we also had the police dogs out and air and ground search teams.

"The body was not found near any footpaths or public rights of way.

"We do not exactly know what happened yet.

"He may have jumped into the water but, at nearly 80, he would not have had much of a chance in the cold water for very long."

Mr Binks is believed to have been a widower with one son.