A body found in the search for a missing man has been formally identified as that of Michael Lloyd.

Michael, 58, vanished last month and police say he was last seen on his daily walk near Risca, south Wales. Gwent Police centred a search for Michael around the River Ebbw, and helicopters from the National Police Air Service were deployed.

But a body was found on December 14 near a restaurant in Newport, approximately five miles from the man’s home. Police have today said formal identification has taken place and this is Michael’s body.

A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: “The body of a man was found in the River Ebbw on Saturday 14 December following open water and riverbank searches conducted as part of a missing persons enquiries.

“Formal identification has taken place, and the man was identified as Michael Lloyd, who was reported as missing. His family have been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time.”

Open water and riverbank searches were conducted as part of the missing persons enquiries following Michael’s disapperance on November 26. He regularly walked alongside, or near, the River Ebbw, which flows downstream from Risca to Newport and eventually into the Bristol Channel.

The 58-year-old man’s body was discovered near a large viaduct and a restaurant adjacent to the river in the Bassaleg area of Newport, which is in the city’s western fringes.