POLICE are becoming increasingly concerned for the welfare of a 30-year-old woman who has gone missing after visiting a pub.

Leanne Chambers of Chester-le-Street is known to have visited a pub in the town's Front Street on Tuesday night and may have gone on from there to the nearby Riverside Park.

A search of the area on Wednesday involving police and the Teesdale and Weardale search and mountain rescue team recovered a coat she had been wearing, but so far there has been no sign of her.

Today the hunt intensified and the Northumbria police underwater search unit has been been brought in. They are concentrating on a stretch of the River Wear near the children's play area.

Det Sgt Amanda Henderson said; "We are anxious to speak to anyone who was in or around the park from 10.30pm on Tuesday night.

"We know it is an area frequented by young people and someone may have seen Leanne.

"She is 5ft 7 ins tall, of slim to medium build with dark brown hair in a bob and was wearing a grey hooded top, black leggings and dark Ugg boots."

Anyone who has any information is asked to contact 0345-60-60-365.