THE body found in a Pendle river was that of missing wedding guest Keith Munton, police confirmed today.

Mr Munton, 57, of Birtwistle Avenue, Colne, had been missing for 12 days when his body was discovered by police yesterday, trapped in the branches of a tree at the side of Pendle Water, Nelson.

The site, close to Seedhill athletics track, is 400 yards from a popular short cut which he is believed to have taken after setting off in a storm to walk home from an evening wedding reception at the Fence Gate Inn, Fence.

It is believed the body was washed downstream by flood water and was only visible once the river level fell. A post mortem examination was carried out last night and further tests are being carried out because of the length of time the body was in the water. But police are not treating the death as suspicious and believe Mr Munton probably drowned.

East Lancashire coroner David Smith has been informed.

It was not uncommon for Mr Munton, a keen walker and runner, to walk home after a night out.

Mr Munton, an engineer at Fort Vale Engineering, Nelson, separated from his wife 20 years ago and has two grown-up daughters, Ingrid, of Harrison Drive, Colne, and Karen, who lives in Durham, and four grandchildren.

Ingrid was today being comforted by friends at her home, who said she was too distressed to speak about her father's death.