Two men re-arrested after 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 remain in custody.

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.

In a tribute, his family, who called him Pottsy, said he was "the heart and soul of any room".

"We are going to miss your smile, your laugh, and the little things that made you who you are," they said.

"Though time may pass, the love we have for you will never fade."

They said they were "deeply grateful" to those who had reached out in support or paid tributes of their own.

"Your love and support brings us comfort when we need it most, it really has been extremely overwhelming the amount of support we have been receiving.

"It's clear to see how loved Liam was," they said.

They also thanked North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team and Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team, who had joined the search for him, Northumbria Police, and the police diving team "that were able to successfully bring our boy home".

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