Pensioner's body recovered from river

The body was recovered in the River Bann at Portadown

Police in County Armagh have said the body found in the River Bann is that of a missing pensioner.

Ronald McBroom's body was removed from the river in Portadown shortly before 0930 GMT on Friday.

It was sighted in the river near a slipway at Shillington's Bridge in the town.

Lough Neagh rescue service was tasked and the body was recovered.

George McBroom: Went missing three weeks ago

A post-mortem revealed the 65-year-old man, who went missing more than three weeks ago had drowned.

Mr McBroom had left a house in King Street in the town and was seen walking towards Shillington's Bridge.

The pensioner had been expected home at Clambrassil Road but failed to arrive.

His family said his disappearance was totally out of character.

Over the past three weeks there has been an extensive search for Mr McBroom.

Volunteers from the Lough Neagh rescue service had searched parts of the River Bann near the bridge and along the shores of Lough Neagh.

Diving

A major search of the river and the lough involved coastguard boats from Ardboe and Kinnego.

Police teams also searched the river bank from the Bann Bridge to the M1 motorway bridge.

Police helicopters and underwater diving teams took part in the operation.

A police plane has been searching the area around Portadown.

Mr McBroom is 5'11" tall, thinly built with grey hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing moleskin trousers, a t-shirt, a navy jumper with an Argyle pattern and brown shoes.