POLICE are once again searching the River Ouse for a missing man, with both banks being taped off in the centre of York.

It follows reports that a man was seen to enter the water in the early hours of today (Thursday, April 3), but was not seen to emerge.

As well as having officers on foot scour the banks, the police underwater search unit is also heading to the scene, in the Ouse Bridge area.

The latest incident follows two recent tragedies in the city which have led to renewed calls for something to be done to improve river safety.

Student Megan Roberts' body was found in the Ouse at Acaster Malbis in March after she had disappeared during a night out in January. The 20-year-old is thought to have fallen into the river near Lendal Bridge.

And Ben Clarkson, 22, disappeared after a night out with a colleague in York on Saturday, March 1 and his body was found in the River Foss on March 21.

And only last weekend, a man had to be pulled from the Ouse after jumping from Lendal Bridge.

In the latest search the Kings Staith from Ouse Bridge to beyond the Lowther pub has been taped off, as has as a section of Queens Staith on the opposite side of the river.

A police spokesman said: "Officers are working with partner agencies to search the river and the surrounding banks in York city centre in an attempt to locate the man.

"There will be significant activity around Ouse Bridge as efforts to find the man continue and it is unknown how long the search will take."

In the wake of the recent deaths a river safety summit was held in the city just last week. It concluded that education about the dangers of the rivers was the key to preventing further tragedies.