A BODY has been found in the search for a South East Wales man who went missing while travelling in Asia.

Mark Counsell last spoke to family members in a video call from Thailand on Christmas Day.

They then raised the alarm at the start of this week when having had no further contact with him since or over the New Year period.

Gwent Police say they were told the body of a man had been found by Malaysian Police on Wednesday (January 7).

Formal identification has not yet taken place, but the family of Mr Counsell have been informed. The death is not being treated as suspicious.

A force spokesperson added: “Our thoughts are with Mark's family and friends at this difficult time.”

Making the appeal to help find him on Monday (January 5), Gwent Police said: “Mark was last seen on Thursday 25 December between 9am and 10am on video call, as he has been travelling Thailand recently.

“He is believed to be in either Thailand or the Kuala Lumpur area of Malaysia.

“He is described as a white male, aged 31-years-old, 5ft 9in height, with an average build. He has short brown hair with faded sides and a short brown/ginger beard which is longer on the chin.

“He was last seen wearing a Khaki coloured Fred Perry t-shirt.”