A stolen car has gone into the river in Thorpe St Andrew.

Eastern Daily Press: A car plunges into the river in Thorpe St Andrew Picture: Martin GeorgeA car plunges into the river in Thorpe St Andrew Picture: Martin George (Image: Archant)

Police have confirmed no one was in the silver Ford Puma, after a concerned passerby called the police just after 7am. The car was stolen in the city overnight.

Police asked the fire service for help just before 7am, and two crews of firefighters from Sprowston and Carrow were sent to the scene, on Yarmouth Road.

Eastern Daily Press: The car entered the water from a small, sloped patch of grass off Yarmouth Road, near the Rivergarden pub. Picture: Martin GeorgeThe car entered the water from a small, sloped patch of grass off Yarmouth Road, near the Rivergarden pub. Picture: Martin George (Image: Archant)

The urban search and rescue team from Dereham was initially called, but stood down before they arrived.

The fire service was stood down at 7.25am.

Eastern Daily Press: The car being pulled from the river Picture: @gittekjeldsonThe car being pulled from the river Picture: @gittekjeldson (Image: Archant)

The car entered the water from a small, sloped patch of grass off Yarmouth Road, near the Rivergarden pub. There are no tyre marks on the grass, or on the river bed.

A crew from Delmonte Garage, on Concorde Road, which often works with the police on operations like this, is preparing to recover the car.

James Airdrie, from the garage, said they would have to wade into the river to attach a winch, and drag the car to the river bank. They will then need to rig up a ramp system to get it out of the water.

He added that the weight of the car had probably doubled, because of the water in it.

He estimated the operation could take an hour or more.Did you see what happened, or have any photos? Email louisa.baldwin@archant.co.uk