The body of a boy has been found in the search for a 12-year-old who went missing while swimming in the river at a beauty spot. 

The child disappeared in the River Swale, North Yorkshire, yesterday evening, prompting a frantic police search to locate him. 

Emergency services were alerted to the youngster’s disappearance just after 5pm and rushed to the scene shortly after. 

The boy had entered the river and suddenly vanished, according to initial reports. 

Specialist teams, including North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue and Mountain Rescue, scoured the banks of the river looking for traces of the child. 

Meanwhile, members of the public were seen at the beauty spot yesterday as the extensive search began. 

A body was tragically discovered just before 11pm last night – with formal identification yet to take place. 

It was recovered from the water and the boy’s family were informed. They are now being supported by specially trained officers. 

An air ambulance arrived at the scene before leaving a short while later, according to witnesses. 

Teams are understood to have focused their search around Richmond Falls – a series of waterfalls along the River Swale. 

Identification of the body is yet to take place, North Yorkshire Police said.  

The child’s death is not being treated as suspicious. 

A police spokesperson said: ‘Following further searches of the river, sadly search teams recovered a child’s body from the water at 10.45pm today.

‘The body is yet to be identified but the boy’s family have been informed and are receiving support from specially-trained officers.

‘Emergency services currently remain at the scene.

‘We are not treating the death as suspicious and we are not in a position to share any further information at this time.’