Police are hunting a suspected teenage car thief, after a vehicle was stolen from a house in Carlisle - and then crashed into a river.

Emergency services were called at about 7.25am today, to reports of a car in the River Eden in Rickerby Park, off Brampton Road.

No one was found in the red Nissan Note car.

Police and firefighters launched an immediate search of the river and surrounding area, but did not discover anyone.

They since learned that the car was stolen from outside a property on Etterby Lea Crescent, Belah, overnight on Sunday.

The keys were taken from the house between 1am and 2.30am, and then the car was stolen.

On the same night another attempted burglary was reported on Lansdowne Court, Stanwix.

At about 1.30am a member of the public witnessed a teenage boy trying to enter his neighbour’s house, and then his own.

The boy, described as about 14-years-old and wearing a dark tracksuit and blue beanie hat, made off after being disturbed.

It is thought the two incidents could possibly be linked, and police are appealing for any information.

A spokesman asked: "Did you see a red Nissan Note been driven in a suspicious manner or in a suspicious place between the early hours of yesterday morning and the early hours of today?"

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.