The search for a person who it is feared has fallen through ice and into the Little Ouse River, in Brandon, has been suspended.

Emergency services, including the search and rescue helicopter, were involved in a frantic search of the river this afternoon - but it was called off as light failed.

They had been alerted by a member of the public who voiced concerns after seeing a hat on the frozen river, near Church Road, just after 3pm. There was also a breakage in the ice.

There were rumours locally that children had been seen playing in the area at the time.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said: “The caller stated he could see footprints leading from the bank, going across the river. He could see a hole broken in the ice and a hat to one side.”

The stretch of river is behind the Sports Centre in Church Road.

Police, fire crews in a dinghy and paramedics, together with the RAF helicopter, spent around three hours searching the area trying to establish whether anyone had fallen into the river.

Police remained at the scene tonight, although officers said nobody had been reported missing.