THE body of a man has been recovered from a culvert behind the Dunkenhalgh Hotel in Clayton-le-Moors.

The 39-year-old man from Church had been reported missing by his family on Thursday afternoon.

Police said concerned relatives called the man’s phone and it was answered by a dog walker who said he had found items of clothing and some belongings on wasteland near to the hotel off Blackburn Road at 8.40pm.

Officers then began searching for the man using the force’s helicopter.

Patrols were deployed and officers scoured a remote area after the discovery of phone on land next behind the hotel.

They discovered the body through a tunnel in a culvert at just before 1am and called for assistance from the fire service.

Inspector Graham Ashcroft of Blackburn police said: “The man had been reported missing by his family. There were a number of officers who were deployed due to the high risk of a person missing from home.

“We put a lot of resources into finding him, but sadly we discovered a body a short time later.”

A spokesperson for the Lancashire police added: “The police are currently trying to contact all of the family and the coroner has been informed.”

Firefighters from Hyndburn and Darwen and a water incident unit removed the body from the water at 2.30am on Friday.

Watch manager Neil Cooper, from Hyndburn Fire Station said: “We had to walk through a tunnel for 10 minutes to reach the body which was in the water.

“The body was removed from the scene using a stretcher.”

His death is not being treated as suspicious.