Graham Connell: Body found in river believed to be missing Morley man

Graham Connell had been for a run with his dog when he went missing

The body of a man believed to be Graham Connell, who went missing before Christmas, has been found in the River Aire, police said.

Mr Connell, 64, from Morley in Leeds, had driven to go for a run with the family dog on 18 December, and was reported missing that evening.

A body was found by underwater search teams in the river at Woodlesford on Monday, West Yorkshire Police said.

There were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances, police added.

Although formal identification is yet to take place, police said the man was believed to be Mr Connell and his family were being supported by officers.

The body was found in the river near the junction of Aberford Road and Bullerthorpe Lane.

Last Thursday, Mr Connell's daughter Steph, 30, appealed for help in finding her father and spoke of the family's "heartbreak" at spending Christmas without him.

Last week, Steph Connell appealed for help in finding her father and spoke of the family's heartbreak at spending Christmas without him

The family's dog, a goldendoodle called Maddy, had been found dead in Wyke Beck at Woodlesford on 20 December, prompting the police search.

Mr Connell's regular run route was along the Aire and Calder Navigation and River Aire to Skelton Grange Road, around Skelton Lake Country Park and down to St Aidan's Nature Reserve.