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Search continues after reports man went into river

News imageSam Read/BBC A small black boat on a river with three officers, dressed in black sat in it.Sam Read/BBC
Specialist search teams are scouring the River Nene between Bedford Road and Billing Aquadrome

Specialist search teams are scouring a waterway after reports a man was seen "in difficulty" in the River Nene in Northampton.

Officers were called at about 14:15 BST on Wednesday after a member of the public reported seeing a man struggling in the water between Bedford Road and Billing Aquadrome.

Emergency services attended but, despite searches of the stretch, no one was found, the force said. The operation has continued throughout Thursday.

Police said the incident was being treated as a "high-risk missing person investigation".

News imageSam Read/BBC Two police officers are stood on a river bank and speaking to two men. One of the men has a red shirt with sleeves rolled up. The other man has his back to the camera and is looking out to the river. A small drone is parked on the grass.Sam Read/BBC
Police describe the incident as a "high-risk missing person investigation"

It was unclear if the man managed to get out of the water at a different point, but the force has urged him to contact police if that was the case.

Anyone else with information or who saw a man in the water is being asked to speak to the force.

A spokeswoman for Northamptonshire Police said on Thursday: "Searches will resume this morning with a specialist team.

"The person who reported the incident was still at the scene when we arrived and has been spoken to.

"This is being treated as a high-risk missing person investigation."

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