UK Boy Missing
Eight-year-old boy is missing after falling into a river. Google Maps

A major search operation is on at the River Wear, near Willington, to trace an eight-year-old boy, who fell into the river while playing with his friends.

The boy from Sunny Brow is believed to have fallen into the river in the County Durham around 19: 00 BST on Friday.

Search and rescue teams including the fire service, the RAF and the mountain service team were continuing the hunt throughout the night to find the child.

"An extensive search of the river is currently in progress, with assistance from the fire brigade. Teesside Search and Rescue are also providing assistance, along with the police North East Air Support Unit," the BBC quoted a Durham police spokesperson as saying.

There has been heavy rainfall in the area for the past several days and the river is flooded. The incident came to light as the boy's brother informed the search teams that he witnessed his sibling falling into the river. According to his description, the boy grabbed a branch which gave away eventually letting the child flow away in the stream.

"His brother said he saw him fall in, hang on to a branch and that snapped but he hasn't been found up to now. It happened just as we were opening and we've had a full-scale search in the area," the Press Association quoted Janice Larnach, the owner of the Brown Trout pub, near which the incident is believed to have occurred.

"The RAF and Teesdale and Weardale mountain team are continuing the search during the evening hours," the police spokesperson said.