Paramedics, firefighters and police officers searching for a teenage boy in the Thames at Walton have found the body of a 15-year-old who was believed to have been swimming with friends.

Police said the boy was last seen near Felix Road at about 2.20pm today, amid concerns for his safety at Sunbury Lock.

Twitter user Sue Chambers said: "Police, paramedics and helicopter on scene. No sign of child who was swimming with friends.

"Children having fun turned into tragedy."

Alan James, 74, of Beasley’s Ait Lane, said: "I’d just come in from my workshop when suddenly there was all this shouting.

"First of all we heard that someone was is trouble in the water.

"All of a sudden his mate was shouting he had gone under and desperately trying to get him out.

"I believe he was swimming with his mates, they were all about 14.

"All the neighbours were jumping in, it’s just a shame it had such a rotten ending. It’s a horrible, horrible thing.

"I’ve a sonar device in my boat that shows you the underline of the river bed. You can see exactly how deep it is. [The emergency services] took my boat out and found him.

"It’s always been known as a local swimming spot. Sometimes there are dozens of them swimming."

A Surrey Police spokeswoman said: "The body of a 15-year-old boy has been found in the River Thames at Walton following reports of a concern for safety earlier this afternoon.

"A search operation, involving police, fire and ambulance crews and the police helicopter, as well as a team of divers from Specialist Group International, was launched around 2.20pm to locate the teenager.

"The body was recovered from the river around 4.40pm. The boy’s next of kin has been informed.

"Enquiries remain ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident, but it is not believed to be suspicious or that there is any third party involvement at this time.

"Members of the public are thanked for their assistance with the search."