A MASSIVE search for a teenager feared drowned in the river Severn ended in tragedy tonight when a body was pulled from the water.

The boy, now named as 17-year-old vicar's son Tony Ballard, had been swimming with friends when he got into difficulty at about 3.30pm this afternoon.

Police received numerous 999 calls from people on the Worcester river bank who had heard the boy’s cries for help.

Emergency services launched a huge search operation, but it was called off at about 6.10pm when a body was recovered by a diver near the spot where the boy had last been seen.

Full story in tomorrow's Worcester News.

  • Please leave your tributes to the youngster below.