Body found after student, 19, went missing on Christmas Day

At around 3pm on Christmas Day, police were contacted by a member of the public who had found a man dead in woodland off Lees Lane in Dalton.

No formal identification has taken place but officers believe it to be the body of 19-year-old Tom.

Tom’s family have been informed. Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious.

Tom had been missing since December 13.

A police spokesperson said: “We have a tragic update to give you in our search for missing student Tom Dingle.

“At 3.12pm on Christmas Day we were contacted by a member of the public who had found a man deceased in woodland off Lees Lane in Dalton.

“Although no formal identification has taken place, we believe it to be the body of 19-year-old Tom. Tom’s family have been informed, and they continue to be supported by specially trained officers. Our thoughts are very much with them at this extremely distressing time. We would ask that their privacy is respected as they come to terms with this devastating news.

“Tom’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to HM Coroner in due course.

“This is not the outcome anybody wanted. We wanted to take this opportunity to thank everybody who shared our appeals for information.”