A BODY was recovered from the River Tees last night after a search operation.

The man, thought to be in his early forties, was seen falling into the River Tees at Stockton at about 6pm.

It is believed he hit his head on the base of one of the pylons on Stockton's new Millennium Bridge, which connects the Castlegate shopping centre to Thornaby. Police said he was not seen to surface.

Inspector John Blake, of Cleveland Police, said last night that the body was found and brought out of the river at 9.10pm.

He said that inquiries would now concentrate on establishing the man's identity.

The search of the river also involved two Cleveland Fire Brigade boats which used thermal imaging equipment to scan the water.

Police interviewed several witnesses to the incident.

Divers from Northumbria Police were called in and the police helicopter was also used in the search.