The heartbroken families of newlyweds Barry and Lynn Collett hope to take the bodies of their loved ones back home together to Hampshire.

Police frogmen are continuing to search for 29-year-old Barry, who is believed to have drowned in the River Wharfe just two days into his honeymoon.

The body of his wife, 26-year-old student nurse Lynn, was recovered from the Wharfe at Addingham Weir by police divers on Sunday morning. It was found by a Bradford man staying at the nearby Olicana Caravan Park at Addingham.

A post-mortem examination yesterday revealed that Mrs Collett's death was consistent with drowning.

Lynn's parents, Earnest and Valerie Spreadborough, arrived in Skipton from Hampshire on Sunday night with Barry's mum and dad, Brian and Margaret Collett.

Superintendent Andy Parker, Skipton Police commander, said: "Their desire is to take both bodies back with them. They don't want to leave before we have found Barry.

"There has been a great deal of uncertainty, but some relief has been brought to Lynn's family by the discovery of her body. For the sake of Barry's family we want to find his body as soon as possible. We are doing all we can to locate it. It is very difficult."

He said Lynn's parents had made an emotional visit to the spot where her body was found and spoke to divers involved in the search. Floral tributes have now been placed at the site.

Supt Parker said if divers failed to locate the body, in the four mile stretch from the Strid downstream, they would review the situation. It could involve going back over certain areas of the river and moving towards Ilkley.

Divers have been faced with difficult conditions because of the strength of the river, but the next few days were expected to be better.

He said the person who saw the body near the Strid at Bolton Abbey was positive it was a man. Officers believed the couple went into the water more than a mile north beyond Bardon Bridge near stepping stones after setting off from their honeymoon cottage at Appletreewick on Monday.

"They were a sensible couple. We do not believe they tried to jump the Strid - the water was very high and we have no reason to think they would do anything like that," Supt Parker added.

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