More flood warnings as river body found

Forecasters say the region will see outbreaks of rain by midday with heavier downpours expected throughout the evening.

However Yorkshire is set to escape the worst of the rain with the Environment Agency issuing “yellow alert” severe weather warnings for Wales, West Midlands, and South West England.

The agency also had three flood warnings and a further 19 flood alerts in place across the country last night but none of these were in the Yorkshire region.

Although Yorkshire is expected to be hit with rain today the weather could improve with sunshine and showers forecast for tomorrow and dry and bright conditions expected on Wednesday, a forecaster at the Met Office said last night.

Meanwhile, police searching for a missing schoolboy who was swept away after falling into a swollen river have discovered a body.

Ian Bell, eight, fell into the River Wear near Willington, County Durham, on April 27.

Durham Police said last night the body of a young boy had been found downstream from Page Bank Bridge.

A spokesman for Durham Police said Ian’s family had been informed of the discovery.

He added: “Arrangements are being made for formal identification to take place and the coroner has been informed. An inquest will be held in due course.

“The search is now in the process of being scaled down as Durham Constabulary has no other reports of missing persons at this time. Durham Constabulary would like to thank all those involved in the search for their help and their support.”

Ian, from Sunnybrow, County Durham, was playing with friends when he was swept away. Search specialists had joined police and dozens of members of the public to look for the schoolboy along the river past Durham toward Chester-le-Street, without success.