A body has been recovered in the search for a swimmer who had gone missing in a lake at Cotswold Water Park today.

Earlier this afternoon, a major search operation was launched after a man disappeared while 'looking for his missing dog'.

A Gloucestershire police spokesman said: "A body has been recovered in connection with the search for a swimmer who had gone missing in the lake at Cotswold Water Park this afternoon.

"Officers conducted searches along with the National Police Air Service (NPAS), Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) and Fire Service and the body of a man was pulled from the water shortly before 8.50pm.

"He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene and the coroner and the man's next of kin have been informed."

A spokesman from the Cotswold Water Park Trust said: "The thoughts of everyone at the Cotswold Water Park Trust are with the family and friends of the young man who tragically lost his life at Keynes Country Park on Tuesday. 

"Our thanks go to all the emergency services and site operators who worked tirelessly during the search.

"The Trust will not be making any further statements whilst investigation are ongoing."

Emergency services began to search the lake just after 1.40pm today. It is believed the man failed to resurface while in Lake 32 - one of 150 lakes.

Hundreds of visitors were evacuated from the park just outside Cirencester as police, fire and ambulance crews searched the water.

Staff at nearby Cotswold Country Park and Beach were also assisting the emergency services as they use their beach to mount the rescue.

Rescue teams searched the lake on canoes, while the National Police Air Service searches overhead.

South Western Ambulance Service say they sent a number of resources to the scene, including a hazardous area response team.

An area has been roped off as emergency services search the lake.

The park is leased by Cotswold Water Park Trust and run by a separate management company.

The site includes two lakes, one with a small beach for swimming and boats to hire and another with an inflatable water park.