Body found on Christmas Day in search for missing student Tom Dingle

Police were contacted at 3.12pm on Christmas Day after a member of the public discovered a man deceased in woodland off Lees Lane in Dalton.

Although formal identification has yet to take place, police believe the body to be that of 19-year-old Tom.

His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to HM Coroner in due course.

Tom’s family have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “Our thoughts are very much with them at this extremely distressing time.

“We would ask that their privacy is respected as they come to terms with this devastating news.”

“This is not the outcome anybody wanted. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank everybody who shared our appeals for information.”