A body has been found in the search for a man who went missing in the water off Portland, police have confirmed.

Dorset Police was called shortly after 10.20pm on Sunday, July 19, to reports a man had entered the water near the area of Church Ope Cove.

Searches were carried out with support from the NPAS helicopter, RNLI, coastguard and Dorset Search and Rescue.

Just before 4.30pm yesterday, a report was received that a body had been found in water in the area of Durdle Pier off Portland.

While the body has yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be the man who went missing on July19 and his family has been informed.

They are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious.

Chief Inspector Lindsay Dudfield, of Dorset Police, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the man at this time.

“We would like to thank all those involved in the search efforts and everyone who shared our appeal.”

Coastguard teams were involved in helping to recover the body of the man from the sea.

Wyke Coastguard said it was alerted at 4.45pm along with Portland Bill Coastguard Rescue Team and Weymouth RNLI's inshore lifeboat to a report of a person in the water.

With a heavy swell the lifeboat returned to station.

Both Coastguard teams worked together with Dorset Police to recover the body from the water. Teams were stood down just after 10pm.

"Our thoughts are with the family of the man at this time," a spokesman for Wyke Coastguard said.