Police searching for missing man Darren Orme find body

A body has been found by police searching for missing man Darren Orme, it was confirmed today (Monday, March 24).

Greater Manchester Police said officers located the body in a stretch of the River Douglas near Stadium Way in Wigan, close to Wigan Football Club's ground.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, but police said Mr Orme's family have been informed and are 'being supported by specialist officers at this time'.

The death is not being treated by police as suspicious and no further details have been confirmed.

The body was found on Monday.

Mr Orme, a big Wigan FC fan, was last seen on March 5, with his disappearance attracting a huge amount of publicity. Search efforts have been aided by the local community, with hundreds of people turning out to look for him amid appeals and missing poster campaigns.

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He was last seen just before 9pm on Wednesday, March 5, at the junction of Woodhouse Lane and Beech Hill Lane, near Standish in Wigan.

His disappearance sparked a major police investigation, with a number of locations across Wigan and further afield searched as part of enquiries.

The new Wigan Athletic manager, Ryan Lowe, also took time out of a pre-match press conference to highlight the search for Mr Orme, 54.

Holding up one of the missing posters, he said: "We're thinking of Darren's family, and we're really behind the campaign to get him home safe and sound. Hopefully he can get back to the Brick very soon to watch his beloved Wigan."

Specialist search advisors, police dogs and underwater search teams were all involved, searching 'extensive areas' including the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and the River Douglas, close to where Mr Orme was last seen.