Body found believed to be missing antiques dealer

The body of a man recovered from the sea is thought to be antiques shop owner Matthew Upham, one of two swimmers who went missing on Christmas Day.

Devon and Cornwall Police said emergency services were called to Exmouth Beach in Devon just before 15:00 GMT on Sunday following a report of a body seen near the shore.

Formal identification is yet to be carried out, but officers said the family of a 64-year-old man from Budleigh Salterton had been informed.

The body of a 47-year-old man, thought to be the other swimmer who went missing, was recovered on Tuesday.

Upham, 64, owner of an antiques shop in Budleigh Salterton, Devon, was previously named by his family as one of the swimmers.

According to his friend, singer-songwriter Kate Bush, he had gone into the sea to help a woman in difficulty.

"Matthew is deeply loved and will be forever missed," said his family, thanking emergency services who responded.

Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton shortly after 10:25 GMT on 25 December after two men could not be located.

The coastguard search operation was called off at about 17:00.

RNLI crews as well as coastguard helicopters carried out extensive shoreline and offshore searches and a number of people were safely brought back to shore.

They were checked either by paramedics at the scene or taken to hospital as a precaution.

Organisers of some Christmas and Boxing Day swims in Devon and Cornwall had postponed or cancelled events due to a yellow weather warning for wind.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.