A major rescue operation was launched after canoes from a nearby park were spotted overturned in an Aberdeen river on Thursday evening.

Aberdeen Coastguard received reports that two teenage boys had taken the canoes from the Duthie Park pond.

The canoes were then spotted overturned in the River Dee with no sign of the teenagers and a major rescue operation was launched around 7pm.

A rescue helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth was scrambled to assist the coastguard and Grampian Police with the search.

However the boys were traced safe and well around an hour later.

A Grampian Police spokesman said: "A 16 and 15-year-old have been charged in connection with the incident and a report will be sent to the relevant authority."

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