The body of a missing four-year-old boy was found in the clothes dryer of a neighbour's home, US police have said.

A 14-year-old boy from the house in Mendota, California, has been arrested on suspicion of killing the child.

Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims told The Fresno Bee that Alex Mercado's body was found on Saturday. Sheriff Mims said the boy had been put in the dryer after he was killed.

Sheriff's spokesman Chris Curtice said Alex's parents reported him missing on Friday afternoon.

Deputies joined by dozens of volunteers combed the area through the night and the boy was found in the dryer about 24 hours after he disappeared.

The suspect - whose name was not released - was arrested later that day.

Belfast Telegraph