POLICE believe the body of a woman found in North Yorkshire is that of missing Ramsbottom woman Sandrea Pilkington.

Ms Pilkington, aged 70, went missing from her home at 11:45pm on Sunday, sparking a major search.

Greater Manchester Police said the body of a 70-year-old woman was found in a canal in Kildwick, near Skipton, on Tuesday.

Formal identification is yet to take place, but police say they have called off their search for Ms Pilkington.