Rescue teams search for boy who fell into River Wear:
Eight-year-old had clung to a branch before it snapped and he fell into the river from the embankment, police told
A major search operation was launched for an eight-year-old boy who fell into a river while playing with friends on Friday evening in County Durham.
Police said the fire service, search and rescue teams and officers from the force were carrying out an "extensive" search of the River Wear, near Willington, where the boy is believed to have fallen from an embankment at about 7pm.
The owner of a pub near to where the boy is believed to have fallen in the river said the area had experienced heavy rainfall during the last week and the River Wear was flooded.
Janice Larnach, who owns the Brown Trout pub, said: "His brother said he saw him fall in, hang on to a branch and that snapped but he hasn't been found up to now.
"We've had heavy rain for a week. It hasn't rained today but the river's really in flood."
A spokeswoman for the North East ambulance service said an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle attended the search but had since left the scene.
The fire service had also left the area but the RAF and the mountain rescue team were planning to continue the search during the night, according to a spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington fire and rescue service,
The spokeswoman said: "A multi-agency approach was co-ordinated by the fire service, involving fire, police, ambulance, Teesdale and Weardale search and rescue and the RAF, who have attempted to locate the boy.
"The RAF and mountain rescue team are continuing the search during the evening hours."
A spokesman for Durham police said: "The boy, who was playing with his friends in the area of the Brown Trout pub, which is in close proximity to the river, is believed to have fallen from the embankment into the water at approximately 7pm this evening.
"An extensive search of the river is currently in progress, with assistance from the fire brigade. Teesside search and rescue are also providing assistance, along with the police North East air support unit."
A major search operation was launched for an eight-year-old boy who fell into a river while playing with friends on Friday evening in County Durham.
Police said the fire service, search and rescue teams and officers from the force were carrying out an "extensive" search of the River Wear, near Willington, where the boy is believed to have fallen from an embankment at about 7pm.
The owner of a pub near to where the boy is believed to have fallen in the river said the area had experienced heavy rainfall during the last week and the River Wear was flooded.
Janice Larnach, who owns the Brown Trout pub, said: "His brother said he saw him fall in, hang on to a branch and that snapped but he hasn't been found up to now.
"We've had heavy rain for a week. It hasn't rained today but the river's really in flood."
A spokeswoman for the North East ambulance service said an ambulance and a rapid response vehicle attended the search but had since left the scene.
The fire service had also left the area but the RAF and the mountain rescue team were planning to continue the search during the night, according to a spokeswoman for County Durham and Darlington fire and rescue service,
The spokeswoman said: "A multi-agency approach was co-ordinated by the fire service, involving fire, police, ambulance, Teesdale and Weardale search and rescue and the RAF, who have attempted to locate the boy.
"The RAF and mountain rescue team are continuing the search during the evening hours."
A spokesman for Durham police said: "The boy, who was playing with his friends in the area of the Brown Trout pub, which is in close proximity to the river, is believed to have fallen from the embankment into the water at approximately 7pm this evening.
"An extensive search of the river is currently in progress, with assistance from the fire brigade. Teesside search and rescue are also providing assistance, along with the police North East air support unit."
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