Body found on the Isles of Scilly formally identified as missing Josh

Police have formally identified a body found in the sea off the Isles of Scilly, as missing Josh Clayton.

DNA testing had to take place, which meant the identification process took over three weeks.

The 23-year-old has been missing on the isle of Tresco since 13th September. The body was spotted by a French yachtsman on the uninhabited island of Tean and was brought to the mainland on 24th September.

A coroner is due to begin their examination of a body found on rocks on the Isles of Scilly.

It's thought to be that of 23 year old Josh Clayton from Taunton who went missing on Tresco on 13 September.

The body was spotted by a French yachtsman on the uninhabited island of Tean and was brought to the mainland last night.

It was the news everyone who was searching for Josh Clayton dreaded to hear.

Last night the crew from St Mary's Lifeboat recovered the body of a man from rocks in the sea off Tresco. The body had been spotted by a French yachtsman on the uninhabited island of Tean.

It was close to where the 23-year-old from Taunton was last seen and while there won't be any identification of the body for some days to come, his friends and family are mourning.

Josh Clayton had worked on the Tresco estate for a number of seasons and it was after a night out with colleagues, on Sunday 13 September, that he went missing, prompting extensive searches.

Josh's family had travelled to the island for the investigation but have now returned home. Police say they will make sure they are updated.

We spoke to Sgt Colin Taylor from Devon & Cornwall Police on the Isles of Scilly earlier today and he told us what would be happening to the body they had recovered.

A body has been recovered this evening by St Mary's Lifeboat from the sea to the North of Tresco on the Isles of Scilly.

Police have made this statement tonight:

"No formal identification has been made at this time however the family of missing person Josh Clayton have been informed of the developments and enquiries continue".

23-year-old Josh Clayton, who's from Taunton, went missing on Tresco on Sunday 13 September.

The search for a missing 23-year-old man on the Isles of Scilly has been called off after teams failed to find any sign of him.

Josh Clayton from Taunton went missing on Tresco in the early hours of Sunday 13 September.

The Cornwall Rescue Group were called in to help officers look for him, the Coastguard have searched the coastline and the police dive team have carried out inland water searches.

Despite this, Josh has not been found.

The Isles of Scilly policing team will now return to St Mary’s where they are based.

Josh’s family have been informed that the search has ended.

Police searching for 23 year old Josh Clayton, who has been missing on the Isles of Scilly for a week say they have still not found him.

The 23 year old from Taunton was last seen on Tresco early last Sunday morning.

Sniffer dogs and helicopters have had to be brought in to search the difficult terrain.

And police have thanked the local community for their help in the search:

Sniffer dogs and helicopters have been brought in to look for a man who has gone missing on the Isles of Scilly.

23-year-old Josh Clayton, who's from Taunton, was last seen on Tresco early on Sunday morning.

Specialist officers are now using thermal imaging equipment to help search the difficult terrain. Police say they're focusing on a two square mile area on the island.

Specialist search teams are back out on Tresco this morning as the hunt for missing Josh Clayton continues.

Police divers are likely to join the search for a 23-year old-man who went missing four days ago on the Isles of Scilly.

Josh Clayton from Taunton was last seen early on Sunday morning, while out with friends, and was reported missing after failing to turn up to work. Specialist search teams still don't know what may have happened.