POLICE say they have now identified the body of a missing man found in an area of shrub land close to Pennington Flash.

A spokesman for the force added they are no longer looking for 33-year-old Robert Paxton, from Leigh.

There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and the matter has now been passed to the coroner.

Police found the body around 3pm yesterday, Wednesday, in a secluded area just behind the golf course.

Officers and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team volunteers had been searching for Mr Paxton, who was last seen more than a week ago, on Tuesday, June 24, close to Leigh Sports Village.

On Tuesday a huge search was launched involving the police's missing person search managers, divisional officers, tactical aid unit teams, PCSOs, officers from GMP's mounted division, and dog teams.

Specialist police search dogs from Merseyside Police as well as an underwater unit were also drafted in to help search the numerous bodies of water in the area.

A helicopter from the National Police Air Service, based at City Airport Manchester, also joined in the search operation.