Missing priest found dead in Lancashire docks

A priest who went missing last Thursday has been found dead after police confirmed a body recovered from Preston Dock was that of Father Nicholas Clapp.

Police were called to the docks on Tuesday morning after reports that there was a body in the water outside the Ribble Pilot pub in Mariners Way.

Immediately upon arriving at the scene police cordoned off the corner close to the pub and a nearby office block as underwater teams began their search.

At about 11am the body of Father Clapp, 59, a retired priest, was found.

Father Clapp, disappeared from his home in Preston last Thursday. Det Insp Dave McKenna, of Preston CID said: "We can confirm the body found in the dock is missing priest Nicholas Clapp.

"His family have been informed."

The investigation as to the priest's whereabouts between last Thursday and Tuesday is ongoing.