NORTH Yorkshire police were today searching for a woman who was reported to have jumped off Selby swing bridge into the River Ouse.

The incident happened at about 10.30pm yesterday when a member of the public rang the police to say a woman was on the bridge drinking from a bottle.

A second witness then claimed the woman, aged about 40, had gone into the river, which is tidal. A massive search was launched by police with the help of the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue boat, from York, and the Humber Rescue Boat.

A Selby fire brigade spokesman said the fire rescue boat searched the river between the bridge and Drax, while the Humberside boat searched the stretch from Goole to Drax.

A fire engine with a powerful searchlight on top also patrolled the river bank for several hours between Turnham Hall, Cliffe, and Ousebank, at Selby.

The spokesman said: "We were there until nearly 2am but found no trace of the woman."

North Yorkshire Police frogmen will continue the search today.

A toll bridge spokesman said the incident was reported by witnesses about four hours after high tide.

He said: "The water would be ebbing away around that time but the current would still be fairly strong."

The woman was said to have dark hair, possibly in a ponytail, and was wearing jeans or trousers and a body-warmer.

A Selby police spokesman said they had not received any reports so far of a missing person fitting the description of the woman, and there was no vehicle in the vicinity that could be connected to the incident.

He said the police underwater search team, based in York, would continue the search today.

Anyone with information should contact Selby police station on 01757 702596.

Updated: 14:56 Monday, November 12, 2001