A BODY has been found during the search for missing 69-year-old Richard Childs from Stroud.

Richard was reported missing yesterday, Saturday, March 17.

In the early hours of this morning, Sunday March 18, a body was recovered from a canal near to the A419 Ebley bypass.

Formal identification has not yet taken place but Richard's next of kin has been informed.

The circumstances of his death are not being treated as suspicious.

Police would like to thank all those who shared our appeals to find Richard and for Severn Area Rescue Association for assisting during the search. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.