A man who drowned as he attempted to swim across the River Tees in Cleveland has been named.

Gary Simpson died despite the desperate effort of two friends to save him, Cleveland Police said.

The body of the homeless 26-year-old was recovered from the river following a major rescue operation close to the Victoria Bridge in Stocton.

The two friends, who managed to swim back to the bank, together with a third friend who had collapsed from shock, were taken to hospital.