WILTSHIRE Police are appealing for the owner of a rucksack to come forward after calling off a search and rescue operation in the River Avon in Bradford on Avon.

Following a report that a bag had been found in the reeds by the river this morning, officers were assisted by Wiltshire Search and Rescue to conduct a thorough search to rule out anything suspicious at the scene.

A Police spokesman said: “The searches are now complete and nothing further was found in the river.

“If you think the bag belongs to you, please call 101 and quote log number 45 of 28 August. Proof of ownership will be required.”

The Wiltshire Search and Rescue team conducted a thorough search of the River Avon from the Town Bridge down river towards the McKeevor Bridge from 11am until about 1.30pm but nothing was found.

The bag was discovered early this morning by a worker going to the nearby Swan Hotel and police were called out to find the missing owner.

Various valuables were found strewn in the weeds and on the bank on the Bull Pit side of the river.

Officers retrieved a rucksack, a purse, a woman’s make-up bag containing brushes and beauty products, and some antibiotics from the river.

Some sanitary towels, a phone charger and cans of drinks, as well as savoury snacks were also pulled out of the long weeds.

Headphones, a lighter, some cigarette filters and other small items were found strewn across a bench in the Bull Pit.