A body has been found in the search for a missing 40-year-old man who was last seen at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in June.

Police were called shortly before 11am today (October 18) after a member of the public found a body in the field off the B1108 Watton Road, between the River Yare and Colney Lane.

Formal identification is yet to take place but the family of James Whitman, from Gressenhall, has been informed.

Mr Whitman was last seen at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on the evening of Monday, June 13.

In the days after Mr Whitman went missing, an extensive search involving officers, police dogs and drones took place in the areas around Earlham Park and the University of East Anglia – including the lake at the UEA.

People living near the hospital were urged by police to check outbuildings and sheds, and walkers in the city were also called upon to assist with the search in the Eaton, Bowthorpe, Cringleford and Earlham Park area.

A fresh search operation was carried out in September by volunteers and police officers, including the Lowland Search and Rescue team.

They visited thousands of homes while methodically checking outbuildings, sheds, farms, fields and gardens in a bid to try to find Mr Whitman.

Superintendent Kris Barnard, who lead the police search, said officers had "exhausted all avenues open to us".

Earlier that month, the family released a statement describing the three months since his disappearance as an "absolute nightmare".

His parents said: "We wake up every morning wondering if today will be the day that we get some news but go to bed every night hoping that tomorrow will be different.

"It feels like someone has hit the pause button on our lives while others around us carry on their lives as normal.”

The death is being treated as unexplained at this time but police do not currently think there are any suspicious circumstances.

A file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.