THE body of a young child was recovered from a busy River Severn marina today following a major police hunt.

West Mercia officers launched the full-scale land, air and water search this morning after reports a four-year-old boy - who has not been named - had disappeared.

More than 30 were scrambled to scour Upton Marina, at Upton-upon-Severn,.

An underwater search team and a police helicopter were brought in, while people living nearby were urged to check their land for any sign of the little boy.

But at 10.17am - three hours after the alarm was raised - a child's body was pulled from the water.

A police spokesman confirmed that, following the discovery, the search had been called off. It was unclear who actually found the boy.

The youngster, who is believed to be from the West Midlands area and on holiday in Worcestershire, disappeared from the family boat some time overnight.

He was last seen at 11.30pm, when the family went to bed, but was not in the boat when the adults woke at 7am today. They immediately raised the alarm and officers were called to the scene to search the marina and the surrounding fields.

Worcester police spokeswoman PC Deb Wragg said the Severn Rescue Diving Team was the first to be called in to search underwater.

But the police diving unit from South Wales had also been drafted to add to the operation.

She said police had appealed for people living in the area to join the search by checking their garden and outbuildings.

He was described as being of medium build with a tanned complexion, short, straight hair and green brown eyes.