Empty boats spark rescue search (From The Northern Echo)

Empty boats spark rescue search

11:37am Friday 9th May 2008 in

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POLICE and search teams combed a North-East riverbank this week after walkers came across three empty boats and some discarded clothing.

A police helicopter and officers on the ground with dogs joined in the search of a stretch of the River Wear, at Paradise, near Witton Park, County Durham, on Wednesday night.

Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team deployed their Swiftwater team and canoe group and police who questioned Witton Park residents discovered that the boats had been there since the previous day.

The hunt was called off as darkness fell, when searches were satisfied that no-one had got into difficulties in the water.

Reece Shaw, 30, from Binchester, raised the alarm by calling at Bishop Auckland police station because he feared that children might have been in trouble.

Mr Shaw, who was walking with his family and their two dogs, said: "It looked like something had happened so we called police. It is better to be safe than sorry, especially with me having kids myself."

A police spokesman said: "Happily there was no cause for alarm in the end.

"The people who reported it did the right thing. Although this turned out to be a false alarm, we would far rather be told than learn about it later when it was too late to do anything."

The search and rescue team had their busiest ever night on Wednesday when they were called on to help with two other searches, at Newton Aycliffe and Bowburn, during the early hours.

Spokesman Steve Owers said: "It can but a strain on team members who are all volunteers and have jobs to go to during the day."