Body found in hunt for missing girl

Officers hunting for a 10-year-old girl reported missing late last night have found a body, police said today.

The youngster was reported missing from her home in Leigh, Greater Manchester, at 10.13 last night.

A police search was launched and the body was discovered at around 2.30 this morning in the Sanderson Street area of Leigh.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "Inquiries are continuing and investigations are at an early stage."

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: "At approximately 10.13pm last night, police in Wigan received reports a 10-year-old girl had gone missing from the Leigh area.

"Following this report police launched a search for the girl. At approximately 2.30am this morning a body was discovered in the Sanderson Street area of Leigh.

"We can now confirm that it was a child's body that was found in the street.

"At this stage this is being treated as suspicious. It does not appear to be an accident.

"The area has been cordoned off and a tarpaulin has been put over the area around the body."

It is believed the body was discovered by police as part of their search to find the youngster.

Detectives were currently in a briefing and further details were expected to be released later today.