A body has been pulled from a Devon river in the search for a missing teenager. 

Taylor Charlton, 15, was last seen on CCTV near a footpath close to Tarka Leisure Centre and the Seven Brethren car park in Barnstaple at 10.41pm on May 8. 

He was last seen heading towards the River Taw, with official searches and local groups unable to find any trace of him in the six weeks since he disappeared

In a major development on Thursday, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that human remains had been found in the River Taw near Sticklepath. 

Officers were called to the river at about 4.20pm on Wednesday where the remains were recovered from the water. 

Taylor's family have been informed of the discovery. 

Formal identification has not yet taken place, with police remaining in the area on Thursday while further enquiries are made. 

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'We understand that this update will impact the local community, and we ask the public to avoid speculating and await updates from police in due course.

'They are being supported by specialist officers and we ask that their privacy is respected at this time.'

A 20-year-old man was arrested on June 12 on suspicion of murder. He was interviewed and released on police bail until September. 

Taylor, from Barnstaple, was 14 when he went missing but has since had a birthday.

In a public appeal, his mother Zoe said she was 'absolutely desperate' for him to come home.

'I love you so much and I am worried sick about you,' she added.

His father Alex said: 'Taylor is a loving, loyal and special lad and we can't wait to have him home again.'