A body has been recovered from one of Hampstead Heath's swimming ponds.
Police divers had been searching Highgate Men's Bathing Pond for a bather, aged in his mid-50s, who was missing and feared drowned after the hottest day of the year.
The alarm was raised after a pile of men's clothing was found on the bank of the men's bathing pond as temperatures in London reached 27C on Saturday afternoon.
The pond, which can reach depths of up to 20ft and has a silt bottom, was closed to swimmers over the weekend.
Scotland Yard said in a statement on Monday: "Officers investigating a missing person in Hampstead have recovered a body."
Police divers carried out a search on Saturday evening but there was no trace of the man.
They returned for further searches on Monday.
Swimmer Lee Thomas, 55, said: “A police officer came and showed me a picture of the man, who had grey hair and looked like he was in his forties or fifties.
“It was very distressing, there was a lot of anxiety from everyone there.”
Police know the man’s identity and have spoken to his family.
A Met police spokeswoman said officers were called at 4.25pm on Saturday.
She added: “Officers conducted a search on the surface of the pond and the local area was searched by MPS dog units the National Police Air Service, without success.
"A man, aged in his mid-50s from the Hampstead area, was subsequently identified as missing.
"On Monday, June 3, a body was located in the pond by officers from the Marine Support Unit.
"The family of the missing man have been informed of the developments.
"The death is currently being treated as unexplained.
"Enquiries continue."
