The body of 12-year-old Andrew Collings was found in the River Cam by a search and rescue team in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The schoolboy is believed to have been playing with three friends in the river on Tuesday evening when they entered the water and Collings failed to resurface.

The police and fire services were part of a search mission that covered a 200m stretch of the Fen Causeway in Newnham. After nine o’clock in the evening, the operation was scaled back and handed over to Spartan, a private company that supports the emergency services in water-based rescue operations. Spartan then found the body several hours later. Meanwhile, a vigil was being held by the boy’s parents on the riverbank.

A narrow footbridge that is believed to be the scene of the accident has been cordoned off from the Granta, a tributary of the River Cam. The bridge is a popular play area for local children.

Caroline McKenney, principal of Netherall School where Collings was a student, said: “The school extends its deepest condolences to Andy’s family. When the time is right, we will be speaking to his family and students at the school to find a suitable way of remembering him.”