Police were trying today to identify the body of a woman who was found in a river.

Officers from North Yorkshire confirmed the discovery was not missing university chef Claudia Lawrence, 35, from York.

The force later added that the body was not that of Lisette Dugmore, 36, from the same city, who vanished last July.

Police said they did not know the identity of the body which was found yesterday  in the River Ouse close to Archbishop of York John Sentamu’s residence, Bishopthorpe Palace,

But a spokesman said it was not that of Miss Lawrence, who went missing more than a month ago.