A community is in shock after police confirmed that a body has been found in the marshes on Grange over the weekend.

Cumbria police confirmed that the body of a woman was found at Grange-over-sands at around 11.20am on December 19.

A spokesman for Cumbria Constabulary said: “Formal identification has not yet taken place and inquiries are ongoing.

“The circumstances are not believed to be suspicious at this stage.”

This follows reports from Saturday that a multi-agency search involving police, ambulance, mountain rescue and coastguard services was stood down at 2pm.

Peter Endsor, mayor of Grange, said he was shocked when he saw the sad news reported.

“It is a shock for Grange, it is not the sort of thing that normally happens in the area,” he said.

“It is tough for those in the area to imagine this happening.”

Furness Coastguard and Arnside & South Lakes Coastguard Rescue Team were paged at 6.30am on Saturday morning to reports of a missing person in Grange.

The two teams met up at Grange train station and a Lost and Missing Persons Search plan was created.

The two coastguard teams carried out a search of the promenade and immediate area.

Furness Coastguard explained that the search escalated and required other resources, which became a multi-agency incident involving the Morecambe RNLI Hover Station, Cumbria Police, Kendal Mountain Rescue Team, Bay Search & Rescue, North West Ambulance Service and Ulverston Inshore Rescue.

Councillor Robin Ashcroft, economy, culture and leisure portfolio holder at South Lakeland District Council, said: “It is of course extremely sad news to hear and my thoughts go out to the family of the person that was found.

“It cannot be easy for them, especially at this time of year.

“I am not sure of the detail of the incident, but the bay can be a treacherous place and this news is a great shame.”