Missing girl was seen paddling in River Thames

An 11-year-old girl who went missing after she entered the River Thames had been paddling in the water during a day off from school, according to residents living near the scene.

Metropolitan Police was called to reports that the girl had entered the river close to Barge House Causeway, near London City Airport, east London, at about 13:15 BST on Monday.

The force later led a search of the river, which involved boats and helicopters from HM Coastguard, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and London Fire Brigade (LFB).

Kerry Benadjaoud, 62, told the Press Association she discovered shoes, a sock, a coat and a phone near the river, and had handed the items to the police.

"Apparently she was paddling, so her socks and shoes were off, her coat, then she must have slipped and gone down," she added.

The child had been playing near the water with a young boy and girl, residents said.

On Monday emergency services launched a "large-scale response" to the incident, the force said, but crews from the London Ambulance Service, LFB and the RNLI were later stood down.

Ms Benadjaoud said a boy who had been with the girl appeared to be about eight or nine years old.

She told PA: "The little boy turned around and said 'I tried to hold her hand but it slipped'.

"I said to the little boy's parents, obviously he needs to see someone because it's going to affect him later."

Barge House Causeway is a concrete slope that goes directly into the River Thames and is used to transport boats.

Residents said that the slope appeared to be covered in moss and was slippery.

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