EMERGENCY services carried out an "extensive" search of the River Ouse in York in the early hours of this morning following concerns over the safety of a person.

Police officers helped fire crews, the ambulance service and a boat crew in a search of the river and riverbank after a member of the public heard someone shouting for help near or in the river.

They searched the area near Leeman Road.

No person was found in the area.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "We received a report of a person shouting near the river at 2.30am today, in the Leeman Road area of York.

"Police officers, including the police helicopter, as well as fire and ambulance colleagues attended the area, but despite an extensive search, nothing of concern was found."

The National Police Air Service confirmed that a police helicopter searched a section of a river in the centre of York from 4.25am.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: "A boat crew and fire crews from York and Acomb assisted in a search of the riverbank after a member of the public thought they had heard someone shouting for help near or in the river. An extensive search was carried out but no person was located in the area."