The family of missing Tolworth pensioner John Harding have been told by police a body pulled out of the River Thames is believed to be him.

Mr Harding, 82, had been missing from his home in Woodland Way, on the Sunray estate, Tolworth, since April 26.

Searches by police, friends and neighbours of sheds, alleyways, woods and the river Hogsmill had not found him.

Brief sightings of his distinctive walk caught on CCTV moments after he left this home were the only hope for his wife Mary.

A body was discovered floating between two boats in the river by Lower Ham Road at the north end of Canbury Gardens on Wednesday evening.

A postmortem examination is due to take place to identify the body this afternoon.