THE body of a man found in a North-East river yesterday is believed to be that of an elderly man who was missing for 12 days.

A police search unit recovered the body from the River Derwent, near Rowlands Gill, between Consett and Gateshead, shortly after 12.30pm yesterday.

It was found as part of an extensive search of a woodland area as police continued the attempt to trace pensioner Alexander Miller.

Seventy-six-year-old Mr Miller, originally from Glasgow, moved to the North-East following the death of his wife several years ago and was living in a warden-controlled residential home in Whickham, near Gateshead.

The father of a son and daughter in their late 40s and early 50s, the former trucker was last spotted leaving the Bridle Path pub, in Whickham, on Wednesday May 25.

In the wake of the body being located and recovered from the River Derwent, yesterday, a Northumbria Police spokeswoman said today: "Police believe the body to be that of 76-year-old Alexander Miller, who was reported missing from home on Wednesday May 25."

Members of the family have been informed and the coroner has been notified of the death.