POLICE divers have gone in to York's River Ouse to help in the search for a woman.

The divers were preparing to enter the water from a pontoon downstream of Lendal Bridge at just before 4pm today.

At the same time, York Rescue Boat was patrolling the river around Ouse Bridge.

Lendal Bridge, which was closed to traffic for several hours, reopened at just after 3.30pm.

North Yorkshire Police said searches were continuing on the river bank and the underwater search unit was conducting searches after a woman entered the river from Lendal Bridge earlier today.

"Lendal Bridge has now be re-opened to traffic," it added.

"Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

"If anyone witnessed a woman going into the river from Lendal Bridge, they are asked to contact police.

"Dial 101, press 1 and pass information onto the force control room, quoting reference NYP-30102020-0206."

As The Press has reported, a woman went into the river from Lendal Bridge at about 12.10pm, prompting a major search by the emergency services, and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter landed in the Museum Gardens.