THE search was underway for a Bolton man believed drowned at a beauty spot.

Emergency services were called to the Blue Lagoon at Belmont, shortly before 2pm, following reports of a waterborne accident involving a dinghy.

Police and Bolton Mountain Rescue team members launched a full-scale search operation amid reports that a man, understood to be from the Bolton area, had disappeared.

The man's eight year old son was pulled to safety from the water and was ferried by ambulance to the Royal Bolton Hospital, accompanied by his mother.

It is understood the boy's mother and two sisters had witnessed the accident.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary confirmed a search was ongoing for a missing man who was thought to have drowned.

A full report of this incident will appear in tomorrow's print version of the Bolton Evening News and on this web site at 1pm.