The daughter of a 66-year-old man, whose body was discovered in a beck following a huge police search, last night paid tribute to “the best person in the world”.

Heartbroken Tracy Watson was among a massive search party of more than 100 police, specialist rescue teams and volunteers, attempting to find her father John Durkin.

They had been searching in vain for four days since Mr Durkin went missing from his home in Ilkley Road, Riddlesden, near Keighley on Monday.

A police search helicopter had been scrambled yesterday morning shortly before a passer-by saw Mr Durkin’s body in Morton Beck, East Morton, near Keighley.

Superintendent Gary Baker, of Airedale and North Bradford Police, later confirmed the body was that of Mr Durkin.

Mrs Watson described her father’s death as a “tragic loss”, adding simply: “He was the best person in the world.”

Police officers pulled the 66-year-old from the beck just after 10.40am yesterday.

He had gone missing on Monday after leaving his home in Ilkley Road to buy budgie seed in Keighley. His car was found on the same day at Keighley Gate, just a couple of miles from his home.

Earlier in the day he had told his daughter he had felt unwell.

Mrs Watson, 43, her 16-year-old daughter, Caitlen, other family members and friends have spent the last week searching tow paths on the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and the surrounding areas.

The Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, the Calder Valley Search and Rescue, were also combing the area in an attempt to find him.

The search had been due to centre around the canal yesterday, with police officers set to search the waterway in canoes.

But the search was called off when Mr Durkin’s body was discovered in the beck.

Supt Baker said: “Inquiries have confirmed the body is that of missing Keighley man John Durkin.

“It is believed there were no suspicious circumstances in the death of Mr Durkin who was reported missing earlier this week, sparking a major search by more than 100 police officers with support from his family and volunteers.”

A post mortem examination will now be carried out and the Bradford Coroner has been informed.

Supt Baker said his officers’ thoughts remained with Mr Durkin’s family.

He added: “Airedale and North Bradford Police also want to thank residents, local media and Calder Valley Search and Rescue and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association for their help and efforts over the past few days.”

Mr Durkin is understood to have fallen into the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Riddlesden some time on Monday before returning home and going out again.

Following his disappearance, an emotional Mrs Watson told the Telegraph & Argus she was not hopeful of finding her father alive.

But she and her family refused to give up the search for the much-loved grandfather.

Family even came down from Scotland to join in the hunt for Mr Durkin.