A SEARCH and rescue operation was launched after a bag was found floating in the River Medway.

Officers were called to Sun Pier, Chatham, shortly after 2.30pm on Thursday to investigate the discovery. A police helicopter was called in shortly afterwards to aid the search.

Nothing was found but the search is continuing today.

A spokesman for Kent Police said the operation was not linked to the disappearance of Christopher Lawless.

Mr Lawless, from Mottingham, south east London, disappeared nearly three weeks ago after a night out at Amadeus nightclub in Medway Valley Park, Strood.

It was the second such alert in 24 hours. A search operation involving the fire service, coastguards and an RAF helicopter was launched on Wednesday following reports of a body in the river. The teams failed to find anything.