A BODY found in the river Severn near Worcester is that of missing man Andrew Cooper, police have confirmed. 

Mr Cooper, aged 44, went missing from his home in Stourport on Wednesday, January 4, and West Mercia Police soon issued an appeal to the public for help in locating him.

He was last seen at his home in Stourport that morning, but did not show up for work that day and had not been seen since.

The body was recovered from the river at Holt Fleet on Friday, March 17, by water rescue crews from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service after the alert was raised by people who saw it floating downstream.

Family member Laura Jackson, commented on the Worcester News website on Saturday afternoon to thank the emergency service workers who had been involved in recovering the body from the river Severn north of Worcester.

She said: "A big thank you to everyone that helped yesterday as a family we are truly devastated and will miss him always xxxx."

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said: "A body found in the River Severn at Holt Heath on Friday, March 17, has been identified as missing man Andrew Cooper.

"Andrew, 44, was last seen at his home in Stourport on Wednesday, 4 January.

"Formal identification has taken place and Mr Cooper's next of kin have been informed.

"Police are not treating the death as suspicious and a file is being prepared for the coroner.

"The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time."