Leicester: Major search for two-year-old boy who fell into river

A search is under way in the River Soar

A major search is continuing after a two-year-old boy fell into a river in Leicester.

Police said the boy was with his family when he fell into the River Soar near Aylestone on Sunday afternoon.

Emergency services, including water rescue teams, attended the scene just after 17:00 GMT but were unable to locate him.

The operation will continue through the night, with additional specialist teams in the morning.

A man was taken to hospital following the incident as a precautionary measure, Leicestershire Police added.

Water rescue teams and police were called out

The force said the boy's family was being supported by specialist officers "at this extremely difficult time".

It added it had offers of assistance from the public but asked people not to attend because of rising water levels and safety risks.

Anyone with any information or who comes across anything that may help the search is asked to contact police immediately by dialling 999 and quoting incident 476:180224.

At the scene

By Tim Parker, BBC Radio Leicester

Bright spotlights have been punctuating the night sky along the swollen river and canal around Aylestone in the past few hours.

Search and rescue staff are carefully working along the waterside in the direction of the city centre.

It must be pretty treacherous down there. Police are asking people to avoid the towpaths as their work continues. You can hear the water in the river rushing by.

There are a few bystanders still wandering around, with more questions that cannot be answered right now.

Alison Clay, who lives in Aylestone, had been walking her dog along Sanvey Lane.

"A helicopter was flying around after 5pm and lots of emergency vehicles soon came," she said.

"There's a drone in the sky still now. I only know what I've read on Facebook but it sounds terrible."

Adam, who did not want to give his surname, from Knighton, was with his daughter on bikes.

He said: "We usually ride along the river by Aylestone Meadows but the police told us not to go tonight when we went down there.

"The parents must be absolutely beside themselves."

Emergency calls started to come in at about 17:00 GMT