The man, who was aged in his 40s, was pulled from the River Ouse, near Bedford, on the south side of the town's embankment at about 1430 BST.

He was pronounced dead after his body was recovered from the water on Tuesday afternoon. The man has not been identified by Bedfordshire Police.

Emergency crews had been on standby since Monday with warnings the river levels would peak in Bedford.

Four bridges in the town were shut when the river level peaked at lunchtime.