Luke Pearce: Body found a week after student goes missing

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The body of a young man has been found in the River Wear in Durham, one week after a university student went missing on a night out.

Luke Pearce was last seen in the early hours of 11 May, walking along the riverbank in the city centre.

Members of Durham Amateur Rowing Club reported the body near Baths Bridge, on the side closest to the A690.

Police said there had been no formal identification, but Mr Pearce's family had been informed.

A post-mortem examination is expected to be held later to establish a formal cause of death.

Durham Police has said there do not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.

The disappearance of the 19-year-old, from Hounslow, west London, sparked a major search operation.

On Saturday night, flyers were handed out in the city centre in a bid to jog people's memories.