Boy's body recovered from river

The body of a 10-year-old boy who was swept away while playing on mud flats in Gloucestershire has been recovered, police said.

The youngster was with other children when he disappeared in the River Severn between Newnham and Arlingham.

Police and coastguard helicopters began a search for the boy when he went missing on Sunday evening.

A police spokesman said he fell into deep water and two of his friends made unsuccessful efforts to rescue him.

Family gathered

He said: "It is unclear what the boy was doing at the time, but he was in the company of other youths.

"It appears to be some kind of tragedy rather than a deliberate act."

The body was discovered at around 0945 BST by a member of the public about 400 yards from The Passage Inn on the east bank of the river.

Police confirmed that family members had gathered at the scene and were waiting in a nearby pub to discover the youngster's fate.

A woman, believed to be the boy's mother, was seen being led to the river by police officers to identify the body.

The coroner has been informed.

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