Banton Loch: Teenager's body has been recovered. Pic: © STV
A teenager has drowned while swimming in a loch, police have confirmed.
It is understood the 18-year-old male got into difficulty while swimming with four others in Banton Loch, near Kilsyth in North Lanarkshire.
A major search and rescue operation was launched after reports of several people getting into difficulties on the loch.
Police were alerted at around 3.40pm and an RAF search and rescue helicopter was sent to the scene.
However, Strathclyde Police said its underwater search unit recovered a body at around 7.40pm.
A spokesman said: "There would appear to be no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death and a full report will be sent to the procurator fiscal."
The identity of the teenager has yet to be released.
He is thought to have got into difficulties while swimming with four others in the loch.
Fire, police and search and rescue teams were called to the loch, also known as Townhead Reservoir. A Sea King helicopter based at HMS Gannet was sent to the scene.
