Officers are today working to identify a body pulled from the River Thames yesterday afternoon - close to where a hero was swept away.

Rescuer Nathan Lane was feared drowned after disappearing in the water at Newbridge Causeway on Sunday.

The 28-year-old, who grew up in Dartford and lived in Gravesend, went missing after diving in to save a young girl.

Kent Police said officers were sent to the river at just before 4.30pm.

An RNLI spokesman said: "The lifeboat was tasked to reports of a sighting of a person in the water mid channel between Tilbury International Ferry Terminal on the north shore and West Street Pier on the south shore.

"The body was recovered and handed over to Kent Police."

A large police presence was spotted around the river, close to the Port of London Authority building.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "We were called to reports that a body has been found in the river near West Street, Gravesend, at 4.29pm.

"Officers were sent to the scene and investigations continue."

Mr Lane was battling to rescue the girl - believed to be 12 and called Maria - but was swept away despite the efforts of four children who rushed to save him.

The girl was saved, but Mr Lane had not been seen since - despite a widespread search which included the Kent Police Marine Unit, coastguard and helicopter.

Two police patrol cars arrived at the Port of London Authority building at 4.45pm to be met by staff, one of whom appeared to be wearing diving gear.

Several people, including police officers, could then be seen carrying what was believed to be a black bag up the jetty.

But just yards from where the operation was taking place, several teenagers were playing near the water's edge on another jetty.

A woman who had been laying flowers at the scene where tributes have been left for Mr Lane remonstrated with the group, warning them of the dangers of swimming in the river.

Mr Lane was enjoying the sunshine on Gordon Promenade when the girl got into trouble in the water and he dived in to save her.

At 3.47pm, the emergency services were called after concerns that Mr Lane, who moved to Gravesend six years ago, had not resurfaced.

St John's pupils Jake Cornish, 16, and Weronika Medlewska, 15, and former Swan Valley pupils Lewis Rossiter, 18, and Kieran Wellard, 16, were also on the prom and went in to the water to help Mr Lane and the girl.

Another man, Carl Payne, 29, of Princes Road, Gravesend, leapt in to help - pulling the girl free.

Weronika, a former St John's primary school pupil, said: "It breaks my heart because I know I couldn't save him – he was too heavy for us. "We jumped into the water and tried getting him out but he was just going down and he was pulling us under the water with him.

"He was 28 and we're 15 to 16. We tried our best; we couldn't risk our lives."

Floral tributes have been laid where Mr Lane disappeared and hundreds of people have joined a Facebook group called RIP Nathan Lane - with many hailing him a hero.

Yesterday, Mr Lane's brother told how the rescuer saved him from drowning as a child.

Warren, 26, described him as "the most generous person I have ever met".

Earlier, a senior police officer warned people not to go into the Thames "in any circumstances".

Insp Henry Sandhu, from Kent Police, issued the appeal ahead of the Party on the Prom event on Gravesend riverside at Gordon Promenade this weekend.

He said: "Whatever your level of swimming, we'd always say do not enter the water in any circumstances.

"Pay attention to the signs. It may be tempting to go in, but do not enter."