Police find body of missing mother

Police searching for missing Northamptonshire woman Gillian Merrick say they have found a woman's body.

The body was found in the River Nene at Tansor, about seven miles from the 45-year-old mother-of-two's Oundle home.

Mrs Merrick has not been since New Year's Day. Northamptonshire Police said there was a "strong possibility" the body was that of Mrs Merrick.

A spokeswoman said: "Whilst the body has only recently been recovered and ID procedures have not even begun, investigators believe there is a strong possibility that this could be the body of Gillian Merrick.

"Investigators have been in contact with the Merrick family and have told them about the discovery.

"We will be keeping them updated."

After her disappearance at the beginning of the year, police searched the family home, and the area around Oundle, including in rivers and waterways in the area.

A 49-year-old man was arrested in January as part of the investigation, but was released without charge.