A BODY has been found by police searching for missing teenager Amy Latham.

It comes just hours after the father of the Wimborne teenager made a heartfelt plea to his daughter to return home.

18-year-old Amy was last seen by her neighbour at her home in Walford Gardens, Wimborne on Monday at 1.30pm.

A police spokesman said tonight: "Sadly, a body has been found in woods nearby to the family's address, which is believed to be the body of 18-year-old Amy Latham.

"Her next of kin and the coroner have been informed. The death is not being treated as suspicious."

Officers from Dorset Police previously said they were ‘gravely concerned for the welfare of Amy’ and launched a full-scale operation to find her.

Before the body was found, chief Inspector Debbie Marsden, of Dorset Police, said: "I understand that Amy has been very upset recently and her family is concerned that she may come to some harm.

“She took her mobile and last made contact with a friend at 2.30pm but since then we have been unable to contact her. She did not take any money or clothes and she does not have access to a car.

Earlier today, her father Graham Latham released a message for Amy asking her to return home.

He said: “I just want you to get in touch with us, we won’t be angry, we just want you back.”

He described his daughter as ‘very kind, outgoing and much loved by her friends.’ Amy lived in Wimborne with her father and her mother Sue Latham lives in Sturminster Marshall.

Amy had just finished her A-levels at Queen Elizabeth School in Wimborne and was planning a gap year to visit her sister Rachel in Australia.

Mr Latham added: “I saw her on Monday morning before I went to work about 7.30pm and said goodbye and blew her a kiss.

“After that she had the house to herself and the neighbour last saw her in a field behind our house around 1.30pm.

“After texting a friend about 2.30pm no one has heard anything from her.”