This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-23424697

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
River Wear search at Fatfield for missing teenagers River Wear search for girls at Fatfield: Body found
(about 1 hour later)
A large-scale search of the River Wear is being carried out for two missing teenage girls. A body has been found by police divers searching the River Wear for two missing teenagers.
Police, firefighters, a helicopter, the ambulance service and specialist dive teams are searching the water near the viaduct in Fatfield, Washington. Northumbria Police received "concerned" reports of two girls in the water near the viaduct in Fatfield, Washington, just before 15:00 BST.
Northumbria Police said it received "concerned" reports of two girls in the water just before 15:00 BST. A spokesman confirmed that the body of a female had been found, but said the search was continuing.
The Fatfield Bridge has also been closed and traffic on nearby roads diverted. The Fatfield Bridge has been closed and traffic on nearby roads diverted.
Supt Alan Veitch of Northumbria Police said: "There were two people on the banks who saw the children in difficulty. Supt Alan Veitch of Northumbria Police said earlier: "There were two people on the banks who saw the children in difficulty.
"One was an off-duty police officer going for a run who dived in and saved a boy who was trying to save one of the missing girls."One was an off-duty police officer going for a run who dived in and saved a boy who was trying to save one of the missing girls.
"Another gentleman dived in and swam the width of the river to get to one of the girls but he came up empty-handed. He was distraught as you can imagine.""Another gentleman dived in and swam the width of the river to get to one of the girls but he came up empty-handed. He was distraught as you can imagine."
He said that the river was still tidal at the point where the girls went missing, and there was a lot of debris and foliage in it.He said that the river was still tidal at the point where the girls went missing, and there was a lot of debris and foliage in it.
He added: "Officers are with the girls' families offering them support at this time."He added: "Officers are with the girls' families offering them support at this time."