Police are urgently searching River Wear for a missing person who disappeared in the water during a storm with his now-rescued friend

• Storm Kathleen has hit the UK and is expected to continue
• Two men went missing in Sunderland during last night's storm
• While one managed to get to safety, the other is still missing

Police are urgently searching the River Wear to find a man who disappeared in the water as severe storms hit Britain.

An RNLI and Coastguard search and rescue operation was launched at 5pm on Saturday after two men fell into the river as Storm Kathleen brought harsh conditions to Sunderland and the rest of the UK.

While one of the men who reportedly fell near Sunderland University accommodation in Panns Bank managed to get to safety, the other has still not been found.

Northumberland Police have now joined the search. A spokesman said:

“Shortly after 5pm on Saturday, April 6, we received a report of two men seen in the River Wear near Panns Bank in Sunderland.

“Rescue workers were dispatched to the location where one of the men had pulled himself out of the water.

While one of the men who reportedly fell into Panns Bank near Sunderland University accommodation managed to get to safety, the other has still not been found (file image). The Met Office has said the weather will continue to be dominated by low pressure. Most of the UK will be hit by unsettled periods of rain and wind over the coming week READ MORE: April showers… and MORE weather warnings: Map shows the Met Office's NEW rain and wind warnings after the country was hit by 73mph Storm Kathleens

“Officers and partner agencies currently remain in the area to investigate and locate the second man.”

“We ask the public not to gather so that local people can carry out their duties.”

The coastguard previously said: “Two people were in difficulty on the River Wear.” One has recovered and the other is still missing.

“The two Sunderland inshore lifeboats, the Tynemouth all-weather lifeboat and a helicopter were launched.”

The operation was stopped last night around 9 p.m.

Heavy rain is set to lash Britain tomorrow after 75mph Storm Kathleen caused travel chaos.

WHITEHEAD: Waves crashed on the coast yesterday as rain hit Britain PORTHELEVEN: Storm Kathleen kicked up waves on Saturday afternoon

The Met Office has said that low pressure will continue to dominate the weather next week, with unsettled periods of wet and windy weather affecting most of the UK.

READ MORE: Britain in the storm Kathleen's chaotic grip: Terrifying moment plane crashes onto runway as it struggles to land in 73mph gales – as the Met Office extends yellow warning for parts of the country

This came after yellow weather warnings, including a life-threatening warning, were introduced after the 11th storm of the season hit the country.

Storm Kathleen yesterday caused 140 flights across the UK to be canceled due to strong winds – leaving travelers stranded in Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham.

Meanwhile, all ferries to and from Liverpool, Heysham and Douglas on the Isle of Man have been canceled until at least 3pm and ferries to the Isle of Wight are experiencing significant disruption.

In Belfast, the world-famous Titanic Museum will remain closed until Tuesday after strong winds caused serious damage to its roof.

The Environment Agency has issued 127 flood warnings and 20 flood warnings for the whole of England and Wales this morning, while a yellow wind warning will cover most of north west Scotland until midnight this evening.

The meteorologist issued a further wind warning for Cornwall, Somerset and Devon from 6pm tomorrow until 6am Tuesday.

The Met Office has warned of possible damage to buildings, power cuts, poor mobile phone coverage and danger to life from large waves and debris being thrown from beaches onto coastlines.