A MAJOR search for a man believed to have thrown himself from a bridge will resume today.

Police were called to Blackwell Bridge, near Darlington, at about 8pm on Tuesday after two motorists said they had seen a man take off his jacket and jump from the structure.

Officers and the fire service attended the scene, before calling in 12 members of Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team, who searched the riverbanks downstream to Stapleton.

A police helicopter was also called in to help with the search.

Fire brigade spokesman Andy Bruce said: “After two hours of a multi-organisational search, it became clear that we may well be looking for a body rather than a missing person.

“Due to the lack of light and weather conditions, we decided that it would be better for the safety of the crew Yesterday, rescue team members used canoes to continue the search.

Team leader Chris Roberts said “After around three hours on Tuesday evening, the searchers were stood down. We returned yesterday morning with three members of our canoe group to conduct a search down river as far as Croft.

“Unfortunately, we were unable to find any trace of the missing person. We are discussing with the police what further searches may be required.”

Along with police dog squads searching the banks, Northumbria Police’s underwater search team was called in to help.

The underwater team and search and rescue volunteers will resume their work today.