A massive search and rescue operation was launched late on Friday night after reports several people were seen swimming in the River Medway.

The emergency Services were called to the river near Sun Pier Chatham at about 10.10pm after someone dialled 999 to say three or four people were in the water.

The Coastguard helicopter was also called to the area and searched from the sky while members of the Medway and Sheppey Coastguard teams searched the river banks areas.

Specialist rescue units from South East Coast Ambulance Service were also sent to the scene and the Sheerness inshore lifeboat crew searched the water.

A number of young people were found on the pier, but none of them had entered the water.

Sources estimated around £50,000 was spent on the rescue operation as it costs £15,000 an hour to deploy the Coastguard rescue helicopter alone.

Searches were carried out from Thunderbolt Pier at Chatham's Historic Dockyard all they way along the river until Rochester Bridge, but no one was found in the water.

After two-and-a-half hours the search was called off.

A police spokesman said: "Kent Police was called at 10.15pm on Friday 5 October to a report that people had been seen in the River Medway.

"Officers attended and assisted the coastguard in the search of the river and river banks.

"Despite the extensive search no-one was found and the search was stood down at 12.25am."