Body recovered from Hampstead Heath pond

A body has been recovered from a pond at a popular park in north London, almost six hours after reports of a teenager seen in difficulty in the water.

Police were first called to the scene at Hampstead Ponds, Hampstead Heath, after reports that a male aged in his late teens and understood to be an Orthodox Jew had been seen under the water.

Around 30 firefighters attended and used three boats to search the water but were unable to find anything.

The body was recovered by specialist officers from the Marine Policing Unit just before 11pm on Wednesday.

The Metropolitan police said the coroner has been informed.

Wednesday was the hottest day of the year so far, with a temperature of 25C (77F) recorded in London.