A BODY has been discovered by a fisherman in Hartlepool Marina.
The body was spotted near near boats on Saturday afternoon and was recovered by a police marine unit.
It is not known whether it is that of 24-year-old Joshua Willingale, who disappeared from the area on Saturday, September 15.
Mr Willingale went missing after a night out with friends at the Royal pub on Church Street in Hartlepool. Police officers suspected he may have been in the water as he was last spotted on CCTV near the Premier Inn at Jackson's Dock. Diving experts from Northumbria Police have been searching the waters at the marina since Wednesday.
Mr Willingale is described as white, 6ft 2ins tall, of slim build with short wavy brown hair and a chip to his top front tooth. At the time of his disappearance he was wearing a black Adidas zip up top with red stripes on the sleeves, a white Adidas t-shirt, blue jogging bottoms and white Lacoste trainers.
Anyone with information about his disappearance is asked to contact Hartlepool Police on non-emergency number 101.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here