A MAN was charged with murder last night in connection with the disappearance of a teenager.

Christopher Weldon, 28, of Parkhurst Road, Pennywell, Sunderland, will appear before Houghton-le-Spring magistrates today.

John Chipp, 18, had been on a night out in Sunderland when he disappeared two weeks ago.

Detectives were investigating reports that he fell into the River Wear following an incident on the Queen Alexandra Bridge, Sunderland.

They were also studying security camera footage from the early hours of Friday, March 19.

Police divers returned to the river yesterday to continue searching for a body.

The search was launched when he failed to return to his home in Sheppard Terrace, Castletown, following his night out.

The last sighting of him was at 12.20am on March 19 as he crossed the bridge.

He was seen on the Deptford side of the bridge, but there had been no sightings of him on the Southwick side.

He was studying on a uniformed services course at City of Sunderland College and hoped to become a policeman.

His parents, George and Ruth Chipp, made an emotional appeal for information about his disappearance.

Anyone with information has been asked to contact police.