Missing man: body found in river

Yesterday afternoon the body of a man was discovered by sub-aqua teams 150 yards downstream from the Penarth Road Bridge near the city centre and the Reflex Bar in St Mary's Street where Mr Davies was last seen alive.

Although the body has not yet been identified, police have informed Mr Davies' family about the discovery to prepare them for the worst if it is found to be Mr Davies. The 39-year-old father-of-two disappeared at about 11pm during a works night out with colleagues on December 20.

At about the same time a man was seen swimming in the River Taff not far from where the body was recovered.

Despite numerous appeals made by detectives, they have been unable to trace Mr Davies or the man seen in the water.

Detective Constable Stuart Summers, from Gwent Police, said: "At 2pm as a result of an ongoing search of the River Taff the body of a man was recovered from the river. "The man has not been identified but as a precaution the family of Richard Davies has been told about the discovery."

The body was taken to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff, where a post mortem examination was expected to be carried out today and an official identification may then take place.

South Wales Police say they may use dental records as part of that process. Ryan Williams, 31, from Taff Embankment, Cardiff, watched from his home as the police operation took place.

He said: "The area was teaming with police officers at around midday and there was a boat going up and down the river dredging the Taff.

"They were there for hours but then they moved over to the other side of the Pen-arth Road Bridge.

"This is the second or third time the police have been here looking for a body recently and a man from Grangetown was found in there just before Christmas." Mr Davies' wife Michelle, of Avon Road, and their two children, Justin, aged 13, and 10-year-old Charlotte have been baffled by his disappearance and have always claimed it was totally out of character.