Two men re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter following death of soldier

Two men have been re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the body of a soldier was found in a river.

Northumbria Police recovered the body of Liam Potts, 22, who served with the Coldstream Guards, close to Wylam Bridge on 18 August.

Prior to his disappearance in the early hours of 15 August, the force said it received reports of a disturbance at The Boathouse pub and a subsequent collision at the bridge between a car and group of pedestrians. Police are investigating whether the incidents are linked to the soldier entering the water.

Two men, aged 22 and 23, have been re-arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and released on bail as inquiries continue.

A man and woman, both in their 20s, sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries in the collision.

The woman has since been discharged, while the man remains in hospital for further treatment.

Police said the soldier was on the bridge at the time of the collision, but was not in the car or hit by it, yet entered the water "within minutes" of it happening.