A body has been found in St Nicholas-at-Wade by police searching for a man missing for four months.

Police confirmed the discovery by a member of the public in a dyke on farmland near Down Barton Road yesterday.

A spokesman said the body has not been formally identified, but the family of David Mirams, from Birchington, have been told.

The 76-year-old went missing while out walking in the area last October.

A major search operation was launched after he was last seen in a field by Old Road in Sarre.

Volunteers and Kent Search and Rescue crews joined the large-scale police hunt.

Canoes had been used to look in the River Wantsum and West Marsh Stream. The police helicopter had also been up several times and a thermal camera was used.

Police officers were called at 3.15pm yesterday and Kent Fire and Rescue Service crews helped in retrieving the body from the dyke.

A spokesman said the death is not believed to be suspicious.