Child's body pulled from river close to where missing toddlers last seen holding hands

A child's body has been pulled from a river in the search for two missing toddlers last seen leaving their home alone.

Officials are yet to confirm the child's identity, but say there is a potential the body may be linked to the disappearance of Miracle, three, and her brother Tony Crook, two.

The pair went missing on Friday in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in the US, where they were seen on CCTV walking down the street holding hands.

It is feared they may have been playing near a river and fallen in.

Hours earlier they were spotted at a convenience store with their mother Donisha Willis, 24, who is in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of child neglect.

Officers say she is refusing to cooperate with them in the search for the children.

She allegedly told investigators when quizzed that her toddlers "don't even matter," according to  Fox23.

Wagoner and Muskogee County Emergency Management crews recovered the body last night in the Verdigris River after it was spotted by an off-duty police officer.

Meanwhile, Tulsa Police resumed their search for the siblings today and have been focusing efforts on nearby rivers.

Neighbours are also desperately trying to find the pair.

"We’re looking through drainage pipes, we’re looking in trash cans, we’re looking anywhere," volunteer Lance Blades said.

"I would be devastated if I couldn’t, I wouldn’t know what to do at all if I lost anyone of my kids," she said.

The children's grandmother Wanda Crook also told local media : "I’m still hopeful. I just hope they still, not in this river, somebody got them.

"I sure hope someone got them. I’m praying hard that someone got them, they not in this river, in this water.”

Miracle and Tony were reported missing on Saturday and police are now growing increasingly concerned after 'exhausting every lead'.

A makeshift memorial has also been created as hope fades for their welfare.

Police chief Wendell Franklin said: “We are at our wits end trying to find these children. The possibility exists that these children are harmed."

He continued: "There's only two things that can happen here. These children are either on someone's couch asleep, and the people that they're with don't know that these children are missing, or these children are dead. 

"There’s absolutely no way they could’ve survived 24 hours out here by themselves, so we need the public to help."

He continued: "Tulsans, I know your hearts and I want you to remain safe. Please stay out of the water and off the banks of the Mingo Creek.

"There are snakes and jagged rocks which could cause you harm. Let our experts work the creek."