River search for missing Skipton man halted for safety

Rory Johnson, 29, has not been seen since the early hours of Friday

A river search for a missing man who disappeared after a night out has been halted due to safety fears.

Adverse weather conditions and river levels led police to decide the River Ouse was not safe enough for the searches for Rory Johnson to resume.

Mr Johnson, 29, from Skipton, North Yorkshire, was last seen in the early hours of Friday morning in York.

Police fear he may have got into difficulty while walking near the river.

Officers said Mr Johnson was in The Postern Gate Wetherspoon pub with a friend at 23:30 GMT on Thursday.

High river levels

They returned to the York Central Travelodge, on Piccadilly, but Mr Johnson left and went to a nearby pub with a fellow hotel guest.

He did not return to the hotel and failed to arrive at work in Skipton on Friday evening.

Police divers are searching the area near Skeldergate Bridge

A police spokesman said: "Due to adverse weather conditions and the current level of the river, it has been decided that the river is not safe enough for searches to resume today.

"An assessment will be made again tomorrow morning to determine whether it is safe for searches to go ahead."

Anyone who saw him on Thursday evening or Friday morning is urged to call police. He is described as white, of slim build and has short, blonde hair.