Body found in hunt for swept-away teenager

A body was found washed up on a beach today on a stretch of coastline where a teenager was swept into the sea.

Jack Saunders, 18, went to get a closer "look at the sea" near the New Memorial on Blackpool's north promenade at around midnight on Saturday.

No trace of him was found yesterday despite an all-day search involving the police and Coastguards.

Lancashire Police said the body was discovered at Starr Gate, near Blackpool Pleasure Beach, on the resort's south promenade.

A spokesman said: "We cannot say yet whether the body is male or female."

Mr Saunders, of Wrexham, North Wales, was enjoying a night out with 11 friends before he went to look at the water.

According to the Coastguard, the weather was almost a force seven gale, with strong winds causing large waves to crash on to the slipway.

Mr Saunders was swept into the water along with two friends who went to see if he was all right.

The pair managed to scramble ashore and were taken by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.