Missing Megan Roberts: Student 'entered river after drinking'

Megan Roberts was last seen in the early hours of Thursday in York

Police searching for missing student Megan Roberts say it is likely she entered the River Ouse, in York, while "affected by alcohol".

The 20-year-old was last seen near Lendal Bridge in the city on Thursday.

Supt Phil Cain said: "The strongest and most probable line of inquiry being pursued by police is that Megan, affected by alcohol, has entered the river."

Police divers are currently searching the river.

'Ended in tragedy'

Miss Roberts, from Wetherby, West Yorkshire, was reported missing on Monday and riverbank searches began on Tuesday.

Supt Cain stressed that there was "no evidence to indicate foul play".

He said: "On balance, this presents as a group of young friends on a night out that is likely to have ended in tragedy."

A police spokesman said three police diving teams were searching the river between Lendal Bridge and Ouse Bridge.

Police divers have begun an underwater search of the River Ouse

Miss Roberts, who is studying at York St John University, was reported missing by her mother on Monday after a friend raised concerns that she had not been seen since a night out with friends at the Popworld nightclub.

Police said she was last seen on CCTV at 02:20 GMT with a group of people near Lendal Bridge, which crosses the River Ouse. She had been drinking "for several hours", Supt Cain said.

'Remote possibility'

The group was seen a short time later on Museum Street on the other side of the bridge without Miss Roberts.

Supt Cain said each of the group was "heavily affected by alcohol" and CCTV footage showed Miss Roberts bumping into a row of cycle racks.

He stated that officers had spoken to the group of friends and were confident that none of them was directly responsible for Miss Roberts' disappearance.

"The possibility still exists that Megan is elsewhere safe and well but, realistically, given the passage of time, such a possibility is increasingly remote," he said.

The charity Missing People has held a "search day" in York, with the aim of encouraging businesses and residents to put up posters and share social media messages to raise awareness of the student's disappearance.

Anyone who has seen Miss Roberts is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101.