Police divers find body in search for missing woman, 24, who never showed up for cocktail bar job
Police in Lancaster have confirmed the discovery of a body in a local river in the search for missing woman Shannon Canning.
Shannon, 24, had last been seen on Friday morning (19 May) when she left her home address in Keswick Court, Lancaster.
Concern was sparked when Shannon never showed up to work in that afternoon.
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She had been due to open the Tipple bar in Lancaster city centre, but her co-workers soon realised that she hadn't arrived.
Shannon hadn't been in contact with any family members or friends since leaving her house in the early hours of Friday.
While launching public appeals for information on Shannon's whereabouts, police and family had said that they were becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare, and that this disappearance was highly out of character.
Police involved in the search confirmed that they were treating Shannon's disappearance as a 'missing from home enquiry', but noted that they were carrying out all lines of enquiry, including speaking to members of the public, studying CCTV footage, searches at specific addresses, and digital enquiries.
Authorities investigating Shannon's disappearance searched areas of land and properties in the local area - particularly parts of the city centre and the Ridge Estate.
But police made a concerning development in the case on Wednesday (24 May) while searching the nearby River Lune.
Police divers from the North West Underwater Search Unit had been deployed to search the area, assisted by the local fire and rescue service.
By Wednesday evening, they were able to confirm that a body had been recovered from the river - and they believed it to be that of Shannon Canning.
As of yet, no formal identification of the woman's body has taken place, but authorities have said that they understand it to be Canning's.
They also confirmed that Shannon's family have been made aware of the discovery.
A statement from Lancashire Police read: "You may have seen a large police presence in Lancaster this afternoon and we want to give you an update as to why.
"We can confirm that we were called today (May 24) at around 4:20pm to a report that a body had been found in the River Lune, near Halton.
"Specialist search teams have subsequently attended the area and can sadly confirm that the body of a woman has been recovered.
"Although formal identification has yet to take place, we believe the body to be that of missing Shannon Canning.
"Shannon's family have been made aware of this sad development and our thoughts are with them at this upsetting time."
Ali Condon