POLICE have confirmed that a body believed to be that of a missing 22-year-old Dalton student has been found.

Merseyside Police said that a body believed to be that of Josef Thompson was found on Thursday in Sefton Park woodland.

Mr Thompson, of Dalton, has been living in the Aigburth area of Liverpool and studying fine art illustration at the University of Huddersfield.

He was last seen at his home on St Michaels Church Road, in Aigburth, on Thursday November 10.

There have been appeals to find Mr Thompson, a former Walney School and Barrow Sixth Form College student, using CCTV images and family photographs.

His mother, Claire Beach, 48, of Chapel Street, Dalton, spoke to the Evening Mail earlier this week about her son's disappearance.

She said: "Every day gets worse because the longer it goes on the more you start to think negative things. He wouldn't deliberately put people through this. He has never ran away or tried to get away when he is upset.

"He is kind and he cares about people a lot. He can be good fun but he is not incredibly outgoing, although he does have a really good group of friends who absolutely adore him.

"We hope that he is just clearing his head. Every time the door knocks we hope it's him."

Many of Mr Thompson's friends know him through a shared love of Psytrance music.

Mr Thompson's family have been informed of the discovery of the body and are being supported by officers from Merseyside Police at this sad time.

In a statement Merseyside Police said: "Merseyside Police can confirm that a body believed to be that of 22-year-old Josef Thompson, who had been reported as missing from his home in Aigburth on 15th November, was found in woodland within Sefton Park this morning (Thursday, 24 November).

"Josef was last seen at his home on St Michaels Church Road in Aigburth on Thursday 10th November.

"At this stage the death is not believed to be suspicious.

"Josef's family have been informed and are being supported by officers from Merseyside Police at this sad time."

Police said a post mortem examination will take place to establish the cause of death.