Tests on body of man found in river

Investigations were continuing today after a body was found by a canoeist in the River Severn in Shrewsbury.

The man's body was recovered from the river in the Frankwell area of the town at about 11am on Saturday. Police today said the body had not been formally identified.

The county ground in Frankwell, a municipal cricket ground next to the Frankwell car park, was sealed off while fire crews launched a boat to recover the body.

The Frankwell footbridge, over Smithfield Road, was also closed for a short time.

Officers said the body was recovered by the fire service.

Detective Inspector Mick Homden said DNA tests were being carried out to help with identification.

He said: "It could be several days before the body is identified."

The Coroner for Mid and North Shropshire, Mr John Ellery, has been informed.

Before the discovery, police in Shrewsbury had been carrying out a high profile search for missing teenager Hayden Reynolds-Evans.

When asked about whether the discovery was being linked to the search for Hayden, police spokesman Richard Ewels said: "The situation is that inquiries are continuing and the search is still continuing."

Mr Reynolds-Evans, 18, of Castle Foregate, Shrewsbury, has not been seen for six weeks since he was spotted leaving a town centre pub.

A post on a Facebook group, set up to find the missing teenager, today said: "Hayden Evans our beautiful angel is now missed and not missing."

The Facebook group set up to find Mr Reynolds-Evans has been joined by more than 5,000 people. Posters were also put up in locations throughout the town as part of the search for the teenager.

Mr Reynolds-Evans worked at the Bird in Hand pub in Coton Hill and at Curry's. He was a member of various darts and dominoes leagues in the town.

The keen gardener attended Harlescott Junior School and Belvidere School and had gone to Walford College where he had obtained a diploma in horticulture.

By Emma Kasprzak