Police requested the help of Cave Rescue Organisation members in the search. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

A body was found during a major search for a missing walker in the Yorkshire Dales.

Police requested the help of the Cave Rescue Organisation on Thursday evening in the hunt for the 77-year-old man who had been reported missing in the Horton in Ribblesdale area.

As North Yorkshire Police continued enquiries, the rescue team began planning its search patterns for Friday morning.

A CRO spokesperson said: “After a briefing, the team began a detailed search of boundaries and caves along walking routes and bridleways radiating from Horton village.

“A base of operations was established at Horton old school, where police officers and team leaders were able to co-ordinate their response.

“As team members were nearing completion of the first phase of the search, police were notified by a farmer that he had located a body in a field near Ingman Lodge, towards Ribblehead.

“Team members together with police officers relocated to Ingman Lodge, where police were able to confirm it was the individual concerned.”

Once death was confirmed at the site about 6km north of Horton, team members stretchered the walker’s body to a waiting road ambulance, which then took him to a mortuary.

The spokesperson said: “The entire team would like to pass on our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased gentleman.”

The incident involved 31 team volunteers.