Tributes have been paid to a former rugby player who was found dead in the River Wensum.

The man, named locally as Michael Byrne, died on Saturday morning after emergency services were unable to revive him.

His body had been spotted in the River Wensum near to the Carrow Bridge in Norwich.

Mr Byrne's former rugby club yesterday paid tribute to him.

Pat Carter was chairman of North Walsham Rugby Club's playing committee during Mr Byrne's playing days as a hooker in the late 1990s.

He said: 'Mick was a great stalwart member of the rugby club.

'He played with heart and soul was very committed and generous to the club financially as a sponsor after he stopped playing and will be sorely missed by everybody at the club.

'He was a natural leader, enthusiastic, very popular and a great character.'

Emergency services were called to Carrow Road at around 9.50am on Saturday.

The road was closed for around three hours while police carried out inquiries.

The death is currently being treated as unexplained, but is not believed to be suspicious.

The East of England Ambulance Service confirmed it received four calls from members of the public and sent an ambulance crew, an ambulance officer and a response car from the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

A spokesperson said: 'Attempts were made to resuscitate him at the scene but sadly he died at the scene.'

They said they did not have an age for the man but thought he was 'middle aged'.