Kent Search and Rescue has sent a message of condolence to the family, friends and partner of Pat Lamb.

The charity had launched a large-scale operation to help find the 28-year-old who had been missing from Maidstone since the early hours of Saturday, December 13.

In a tragic end to the month-long campaign Mr Lamb's body was discovered at Cuxton Marina on Saturday afternoon.

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Chairman of KSAR, Paul Lewis, said the thoughts of his organisation are with Mr Lamb's family and friends during this tough time.

He also thanked the family and his girlfriend Natasha for maintaining awareness during the search and the public for their outstanding response.

Since first being alerted to the situation soon after Mr Lamb's disappearance Mr Lewis revealed that more than 1,000 hours of searching had been carried out by volunteers working for free.

The cost to police of the operation is believed to run into the millions.

Video: Kent Search and Rescue chairman Paul Lewis

He said that volunteers had been out on the water nearly every day since the start of the search and thanked his team for their commitment.

In December specialist teams using sonar and sniffer dogs were drafted in to scour the water between Lockmeadow and Allington Lock.

Dive teams spent two days investigating anomalies but nothing was found.

Today Natasha Morgan paid an emotional tribute to her boyfriend, and people have been invited to lay flowers in tribute to Pat Lamb beside the River Medway.

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