A “massive nosebleed” prompted a missing person search after a patch of blood was found on a walkway near Beccles Quay.

A police cordon was put around a boat moored at the quay off Fen Lane, on Saturday as officers searched for the boat owners.

The owners were eventually traced, and the two men returned to the boat.

Beccles harbourmaster Tim Ashby said: “It could have been a person in the river, but luckily the two men returned and they were safe and well.

“One of the men had bashed his nose and had suffered a massive nosebleed.

“With the amount of blood, and there being no-one aboard, it was classed as a missing person inquiry. It was a good outcome in the end and the outcome He said the boat had arrived at 4pm on Friday with two men aboard, and added that the blood was found when harbour staff “came down at 10am to speak with the owners so they could pay the mooring fee”.

Suffolk Police were alerted.