POLICE searching for a person who was reported missing from his Exeter home on Christmas Day have found a man dead on the Blackdown Hills above Wellington.

John Harris, aged 57, was last seen alive at about 12 noon on Christmas Eve.

He was known to have links with Wellington and Taunton and was thought to have been driving his blue Peugeot car.

Police were concerned for his welfare and had urged anybody who saw him or his car to immediately call 999.

Then, on Wednesday (December 27), a man was found dead near Hemyock.

Police said although no official identification had been made, the family of Mr Harris had been made aware of the discovery.

A Devon and Cornwall Constabulary spokesperson said the death was not being treated as suspicious and a file was being prepared for Devon coroner Philip Spinney.