THE bodies of missing pensioner Ann Powles and her dog have been found in the River Cherwell in Oxford.

Search and recovery team officers made the discovery shortly after noon today, near the Sunnymead Recreation Ground, after a member of the public spotted what looked like red clothing under a layer of ice on the surface of the river.

Ms Powles, of Hobson Road, Summertown, was last seen at 6pm on Monday, at a friend’s house in nearby Water Eaton Road, Sunnymead, before she left to walk her dog, a brown and black border terrier.

She was reported missing by her family on Tuesday afternoon.

The 74-year-old was formally identified tonight.

Supt Chris Sharp said Ms Powles was well known in the area and volunteered at the local church and toddler group.

He also said she had son and daughter who lived nearby and had many friends and people she looked after, whom she visited regularly.

He said: “It’s not clear why she went in the river but we’re not treating it as suspicious.

“We can’t say what happened, whether she went into the river after the dog or she fell in.

“We’re appealing for anyone with information about this to get in touch.

“Our thoughts are with her family at this time.”

He added: “We advise anyone walking their dogs to keep them on leads and away from the rivers.”

On Tuesday evening more than 20 officers were sent out on foot looking for Ms Powles in the area around the recreation ground, supported by the police helicopter.

However, a call from a member of the public who had spotted something they thought was clothing underneath the ice prompted officers to begin a search of the river this morning.

Supt Sharp described the river bank as quite steep. He added that the ice on the river was thin in most places but thicker in others.

Firefighters were called out three times in three hours after reports that dogs had fallen through ice covering waterways and ponds around the county on Tuesday.

Two managed to escape from the water, but a third had to be rescued by firefighters in Kennington.

None of the dogs or their owners were injured.

Richard Woodward, of Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Often the ice seems thicker than people expect and can be very unpredictable.”

l Anyone with information about Ann Powles or who may have seen her in the Sunnymead area early on Monday evening should call Oxford police on 08458 505505.