9 September 2012 Last updated at 11:26 ET

River Wear death: Colin Dodds' body found

Colin was swimming with friends when he began to struggle

The body of a 16-year-old who got into difficulties while swimming in a County Durham river has been found by police.

Officers searched through the night after Colin Dodds was swept away by the River Wear in Bishop Auckland on Saturday evening.

Ch Insp Sukhsham Sahani, of Durham Police, said his body was found at about 04:20 BST.

She said: "Family have been informed, the death is not being treated as suspicious."

It is thought Colin was with two other 16-year-olds when he began to struggle and was unable to reach the river bank.

His friends raised the alarm and a major search started at about 17:20 BST on Saturday.

Police said Colin's friends had told them he was a weak swimmer.

Tributes to Colin Dodds have been left by the river

Ch Insp Sahani said: "Our condolences go out to the family to cope with what is every parent's nightmare.

"This incident has ended up in a tragic accidental death."

The teenager, who lived at Douthwaite Road on the Woodhouse Close estate in Bishop Auckland, had been swimming in an area of the river downhill from the town's Market Place, known locally as the Batts.

Three helicopters - the air ambulance, a police helicopter and a crew from RAF Boulmer in Northumberland - were involved in searches along the river.

Police said a post-mortem would take place in the next two days.