Police searching for a teenager from Ireland who went missing during a night out in the West End of London have found a body.

Patrick Halpin, 18, was last seen leaving the Zoo Bar near Leicester Square on Wednesday night. Officers said a body was found in an enclosed area near the bar at around 7.50pm on Thursday. They were trying to identify the body.

Halpin, from Loughrea in Galway, was visiting the capital on a trip with his college. His sister, Regina, had issued an appeal on Facebook to help find him. She wrote: "[Patrick] was in London on a trip this week and went missing from a nightclub last night and hasn't been seen since."

"He was in The Zoo nightclub just off Leicester Square and left to go to Burger King but did not return home. He should have been staying in the Astor Museum Hostel, Bloomsbury, London."

Another post appealed for help in carrying out a search, but she later shared this message: "Please do not join us tonight. After discussion the police have decided to man the streets themselves with just the family and us few here.

"We may need your help in the morning so do keep an eye on fb [Facebook]. Thanks for all the support! Til the morning xx."

Police said it was too early to say whether the death was suspicious.