A 24-YEAR-OLD man from Leigh is believed to have drowned after plunging into Lower Rivington Reservoir.

His body was recovered from the water on Friday night after a 12-hour search by police divers.

The man has not yet been formally identified and his family are still being informed.

Police were called after a member of the public informed them that he heard a splash as he was walking around the reservoir near to Horrobin Lane, Anderton, shortly before 11pm on Thursday night.

Officers were sent to the scene and an extensive search operation was launched in the darkness.

Lancashire Police's helicopter took to the skies and throughout the night used its heat seeking equipment in an attempt to locate anyone in the reservoir.

Police officers scoured the surrounding area using sniffer dogs and the underwater search team started the task of searching the reservoir.

The operation was abandoned in the early hours after they failed to find anything.

Divers resumed their search the following morning and the man's body was eventually found 40 metres from the shore at about 2.30pm.

A post mortem examination is now being carried out and the coroner has been informed.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: "There are no suspicious circumstances.

"We are not releasing any further details of the man until the next of kin have been informed."