POLICE investigating reports of a teenager being pushed into the River Ouse now believe it may have been “a prank”.

Detectives appealed for witnesses yesterday to an alleged robbery following reports that four unknown men stopped an 18-year-old as he was cycling along Clifton Bridge in the direction of Acomb, just after 1am on Saturday.

As reported on thepress.co.uk, it was claimed they forcibly took him to the bridge railing, took his wallet, mobile phone and passport before allegedly pushing him back against the railings from where he fell about eight metres into the water below.

Police said at the time the man initially went under the water but was able to swim to safety and is not believed to have been injured. He found his stolen possessions on the pavement over the bridge.

However, a spokeswoman for York CID told The Press last night the man’s fall was now believed to have been “accidental” or “based on a prank” rather than a crime taking place.

“We are looking into establishing the exact circumstances of what happened but it is not believed to have been an attack by a stranger. We are certainly not looking for any offenders or suspects into the investigation but it is still being reviewed.”

However, she stressed the dangers of people entering the River Ouse.