A BODY has been found following a search for a man who fell into the River Teifi on Thursday afternoon, police have confirmed.

A large-scale search was launched following reports that a 22-year-old man had fallen into the river in Newcastle Emlyn at around lunch time yesterday.

Police confirmed last night that officers had recovered a body.

The man has been named locally as Jem Cole, who worked as a barman at The Bunch Of Grapes.

Friends on social media described Mr Cole as “a diamond” while colleagues at The Bunch Of Grapes said he was “one of the loveliest people” and his “cheeky smile charmed everyone and he was always ready to help anyone out”.

The news a body had been discovered was confirmed late last night and a spokesman for Dyfed-Powys Police said the man had been formally identified by next of kin and that there were no suspicious circumstances.

Emergency services were called to the town at 12.33pm yesterday following reports that a man had fallen into the river at Bridge Street.

The police search focused on the area below the bridge near Teifi Terrace.

Fire crews from Newcastle Emlyn, Llandysul and two specialist water rescue units from Carmarthen and Aberystwyth were called, along with an RAF search and rescue helicopter and the Welsh Air Ambulance.

Police and fire crews used a boat to search the river, while a police dog scoured the banks and a drone flew over the area.