POLICE feared today for the safety of a sailor after his motor boat was found abandoned on the River Ouse near York, following a suspected crash.

The white Fairline 33 motor cruiser was discovered drifting with its engine still running on a stretch of the swollen river just north of York, near Nether Poppleton.

The boat had suffered damage. It is believed it may have collided with a bridge near Overton, and its owner may have been thrown overboard.

A search involving a helicopter using heat-seeking equipment has proved fruitless.

Sergeant Dave Brown, of York police, said: "Police were alerted to a white Fairline 33 motor cruiser on the River Ouse, just north of York, which was in the water with the engine running but no one on board.

"Further investigations suggested the motor boat may have collided with a bridge near Overton as it had sustained moderate damage. No one was found on board.

"Information provided suggested a male was at the helm prior to this suspected collision, and police are now concerned about his welfare."

Police were called to the discovery of the craft at about 7pm last night.

Humberside Police's helicopter was drafted in to scour the area.

Scenes-of-crime officers were examining the boat at the scene today.

The boat, which is likely to be worth about £75,000, has a "fly bridge" over the top, which allows it to be steered from outside.

The River Ouse would have been heavily swollen by record rainfalls which sparked a string of flood warnings across North Yorkshire.

Anyone with information is asked to call police in York on 01904 631321.

Meanwhile, flood-threatened parts of North Yorkshire remained on a knife-edge today, waiting for river levels to reach their peaks following record rainfalls.

While York appeared to have escaped any major flooding, a severe flood warning was put in place on the River Ure at Boroughbridge as waters from its tributary, the River Tutt, starting rising.

A severe flood warning remained in place on Pickering Beck at Pickering.

The river was expected to peak at about four metres.

A flood warning was also in place on Cop Beck at Stutton, near Tadcaster.

A flood warning remained in place today for riverside properties on the Derwent at Stamford Bridge.

The River Nidd at Knaresborough was given the all-clear today.

Updated: 12:19 Saturday, August 03, 2002