POLICE searching for missing York civil servant Peter Critchlow today dragged a man's body from the River Foss in the city.

The body was pulled from the Foss at about 11am today after a call from a member of the public.

When asked if the body was that of Mr Critchlow, police declined to comment.

After finding the body, police divers were searching the area around where the body was recovered to look for more clues.

Police spokesman Tony Lidgate said a post-mortem examination was being held this afternoon to find out the cause of the man's death.

He said inquiries were in progress to establish his identity.

Mr Critchlow, 25, of Markham Street, The Groves, was last seen more than four weeks ago at a phone box in Heworth Green, a short distance from where the man's body was discovered.

Last Friday Mr Critchlow's parents, John and Norma, and girlfriend Dawn Harrison, made an emotional appeal for information about his whereabouts.

Updated: 14:13 Tuesday, December 16, 2003