Xielo Maruziva: More than 200 officers involved in search for boy

Two-year-old Xielo Maruziva has been missing since he fell into the River Soar on 18 February

More than 200 officers have been involved in the ongoing search for a two-year-old boy who fell into a river in Leicester, police have said.

Xielo Maruziva fell into the River Soar, in the Aylestone area, at about 17:00 GMT on 18 February.

Despite specialist teams, divers and other organisations joining the search, Xielo has not yet been found.

Police said the search was "one of the most complex", being done "in the most challenging of conditions".

Xielo has been described as a "bundle of joy" by his family, who said they were "so heartbroken" by his disappearance.

Leicestershire Police previously said officers had recovered CCTV, which it believes shows Xielo falling in the river, in the Marsden Lane area of Aylestone Meadows.

Xielo's father entered the water to try to rescue his child, and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. He was later discharged.

The search for Xielo is continuing despite the "challenging" conditions, police say

The force said efforts to find Xielo continued up to the areas of Birstall and Watermead Park, "despite further rainfall affecting the river levels".

"This has been, without doubt, one of the most complex search operations conducted in the most challenging of conditions experienced by policing in the UK," Assistant Chief Constable Michaela Kerr said.

"Our teams - both our own officers and those from other organisations - have been working full days no matter what the weather has been like with the sole aim of finding Xielo."

On Tuesday, police said Specialist Group International (SGI) arrived "to assist the ongoing effort" to find Xielo.

The same company assisted Lancashire Police when Nicola Bulley vanished on a riverside dog walk in St Michael's on Wyre on 27 January last year.

The force said officers had been supported by five specialist search and rescue teams from across the country, with more than 30 divers entering the water.

Police are seeking advice and guidance from experts within national bodies, such as the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs' Council.

"We will, of course, continue to support Xielo's family as we have done since the news of what happened first broke and in turn, I'm extremely grateful for the support that been shown towards us," ACC Kerr added.