A body found in a river has been confirmed as that of missing six-year-old Lucas Dobson, police have said. Lucas went missing on Saturday afternoon after he fell into the river Stour in Kentwhile on a family fishing trip.

A body was found on Wednesday morning, and the family were informed.

Ch Insp Mark Weller of Kent police said: “A formal identification has taken place and I can confirm the body is that of missing Lucas. It brings an end to our search and I would like to echo Lucas’s family’s message of thanks to those who came out to help search for him in the last few days.

“The community support we have witnessed has been heart-warming, even in the most tragic of circumstances.”

Ch Insp Weller also praised the efforts of emergency services including the RNLI, Kent fire and rescue service and HM Coastguard. He said: “While the search may have ended, our support to Lucas’s family continues.”

Three hundred people, including volunteers and members of the emergency services, were involved in the search for the child.

A vigil in Aylesham for Lucas Dobson. Photograph: CJ Barr/PA

Police are continuing their inquiries, but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Earlier in the week, Lucas’s aunt, Maciee Stanford, reportedly said the child’s father, Nathan, had jumped into the river after him with two others but “the current was too strong – he had already gone”.

She added: “He was with his dad and his dad’s friends along with other children. Lucas was on the jetty and tried to step from there on to the boat, but he fell in between the jetty and the boat. As soon as he fell, the three adults jumped in after, but the current was too strong, he could not be found. They fish and do this regularly as it is behind one of the men’s houses – all the children play together here.”

Vigils had been held for the boy, organised online under the hashtag #LIGHTUPTHECOASTFORLUCAS.