Search underway for man missing in River Ouse

A major search is under way for a young man seen falling from a bridge into the River Ouse in York city centre.

Witnesses raised the alarm at around 3.15am on Sunday after seeing the man, described by police as being in his late teens to early 20s, fall from Ouse Bridge.

Despite their efforts to throw him a lifebelt the man was swept away by thecurrent before emergency services arrived and there are fears he was unable to swim to safety.

According to onlookers he fell from the middle arch of the bridge and isthought to have been carried toward Skeldergate Bridge.

A North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue boat was launched and officers from North Yorkshire Police said they are combing the river banks while a police helicopter assists from above.

The force said no-one had come forward to report the man missing and he has not been identified. He was described as having short hair and wearing a red T shirt and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101,quoting incident reference NYP-10072016-0098.