River search

Warkworth police were last night searching for the occupants of a yellow and blue raft which was found in the swollen Mahurangi River.

A security guard told police he had seen several young men in the raft earlier in the evening. The raft and an oar were found abandoned in the river and police were unsure if the occupants were still in the water.

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter joined police, coastguard and lifeguards in the search of the river. Police said the men might have left safely, in which case they were urged to notify authorities.