River search for missing Telford man to widen

Det Insp Steve Goddard said parts of the Severn had been inaccessible to search teams until now

Efforts to locate a man seen going into the River Severn a week ago will increase over the weekend, as water levels are forecast to drop.

Harry Hull-Merrick, 36, from Telford, is thought to have entered the water by the Robin Hood pub, Ironbridge, Shropshire on 8 December.

West Mercia Police said boats, canoes, drones and helicopters had searched the river for him.

But the Severn was high following heavy rain, hampering the search, it added.

Det Insp Steve Goddard said a combination of the swollen river, fast currents and bad weather had made some parts of the Severn inaccessible until now.

He said there would be a "significant search presence over the weekend" after the river's peak, and that the search was likely to extend in the Bridgnorth direction.

Harry Hull-Merrick has been named by police conducting a river search

Det Insp Goddard said Mr Hull-Merrick was named in the search after CCTV images were released on Monday showing a man entering the water. That appeal, he added, had generated "a significant response from the public".

Specialist officers were talking to Mr Hull-Merrick's family, he said.

But despite that breakthrough, he said the force was still trying to piece together his movements on the evening of 8 December and appealed again for anyone who may have seen him to get in touch.