THE BODY of a man has been recovered from the River Ouse this evening.

The entire stretch of the river between Scarborough and Clifton Bridges was closed to all boat traffic for part of this afternoon, part of the southern bank near to Cinders Lane was cordoned off by officers, and walkers and cyclists were diverted off the footpath by St Peter’s School playing fields on the opposite bank.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the body was found in the stretch of river which runs along the back of St Peter’s School playing fields in Clifton.

“The body was recovered from the water by the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Underwater Search Team at around 8pm, following a call from a member of the public just after 4pm.

“Formal identification has not yet taken place, therefore we are not in a position to release the identity of the deceased.”

The family of missing York man Mandeep Ahluwalia, 41, have been informed of the discovery.

The closure lasted for much of the afternoon and into the evening.

It is the fourth time this year a body has been recovered from the River Ouse and River Foss in York.

It follows an urgent appeal made by police on Friday for the public to help them trace Mandeep Ahluwalia, of Heworth, as they were concerned for his welfare.

He had not been seen since Friday afternoon and did not have his car, credit cards or mobile phone with him.

The river operation began shortly after 4pm. A group of young people sunbathing near Scarborough Bridge said there had been no indication anything was unusual until a search and rescue boat arrived.

Half a dozen boats of all types gathered near Clifton Bridge as the evening approached, awaiting police permission to go downstream.

Boat owner Michael McLeod, of Bishopthorpe, who was at Scarborough Bridge, said: “My family went earlier to have a barbecue further up stream. I went to meet them but have been held up here, while they are on the other side.”

He said he and his wife had been upset by the recent river deaths, adding: “It’s very sad. But what can people do to prevent this happening?”

Earlier this year, the body of Megan Roberts, 20, a student at York St John University, was found in the River Ouse and that of Ben Clarkson, 22, was found in the River Foss. Both had gone missing after a night out in the city centre. Signaller Tyler Pearson's body was recovered from the River Ouse on April 17 after he attempted to swim across the river on April 3.