A HOAX call about a body in the river caused emergency services including an air ambulance to converge on Upton Marina.

Emergency services were called to reports of a drowning at around 5.45pm on Monday evening only to find out that it was a false call.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called by the police at 5.43pm to reports of a drowning but it turned out to be a false report."

In addition to the air ambulance travelling from Strensham, a land ambulance, a paramedic officer and a hazardous area response team were all sent to the scene.

A spokesman for the ambulance service has previously told the Worcester News that it costs around £200 for a land ambulance to be sent to an incident.

“Sergeant Rich Thomas of West Mercia Police, said: “We take all calls of such nature very seriously, a search involving police, ambulance and fire services was undertaken. It was later determined that the incident had been falsely reported.

“Enquiries are still ongoing to locate the caller and establish the circumstances involving the call.

“It should be acknowledged that our emergency numbers provide a vital service for people to contact us regarding critical matters, but using it inappropriately detracts from all the cases where people genuinely need our help.

“Every call takes time to answer and assess properly for our response. For every misdirected call we receive, people who do require a police response may have to wait longer to have their call answered at the busiest times.”

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service sent two boats and a fire engine with a water rescue crew.

The search was called off at 7.39pm on Monday.

HWFire Upton tweeted: "Hoax call to someone in the river. This costs lives."

People living near to Gardens Walk reported seeing multiple police cars and said they believed officers were searching along the river on foot and in a boat.

Residents said a helicopter was also overhead and ambulances with blue lights flashing were seen heading towards the river near to a track by Minge Lane and the Upton Ham Nature Reserve at around 6pm on Monday. .

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue were called at 5.45pm on Monday evening.