A 14-year-old schoolboy has gone missing after swimming in the River Mersey.

Merseyside Police cordoned off the area and launched a massive police search.

The teenager disappeared at around 7pm last night after becoming separated from his friends off Crosby Beach.

A group of schoolchildren were said to have been swimming in the river close to the radar tower when the boy was lost.

A search and rescue operation has been launched between the beach and marine lake after a coastguard helicopter was spotted in the air last night.

Five ambulances and six fire engines were at the scene.

They were assisted by at least three police vehicles in the vicinity.

More emergency services personnel were positioned further down the beach and a coastguard helicopter was circling the scene.

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A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: “We can confirm that emergency services are responding to an incident in Waterloo this evening, Sunday, 30 June.

“Just after 7pm emergency services received a report of a concern for safety of a 14-year-old boy who had gone swimming in the River Mersey, near to the radar tower with a group of friends.

“His friends had come out of the river but had become separated from him and he has not been seen since.

“The incident is ongoing and Crosby beach near to the radar tower has been cordoned off.

“We are asking people to avoid the area at this time, whilst the emergency services, including the coastguard and North West Ambulance Service, continue searching for the missing boy.”