Prestonians across Penwortham, Broadgate, Frenchwood, Avenham and Walton-le-Dale were awoken in the early hours of Sunday morning by the Coastguard helicopter.
Emergency services were searching the River Ribble due to reports of a missing person.
The Coastguard helicopter was deployed from Caernarfon in support of rescue teams from Lytham St Annes and Southport who had come up the River Ribble from 12.30am on Sunday (5 October).
The helicopter was circling Preston for more than an hour from 2.30am on Sunday morning.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: “On 5 October at approximately 12:30am, HM Coastguard was alerted to reports from Lancashire Police and Fire and Rescue Service regarding a missing person in the River Ribble.
“Coastguard Rescue Teams from Lytham St Annes and Southport were tasked, alongside a Coastguard helicopter and an RNLI inshore lifeboat from Lytham. Despite an extensive search of the area, nothing was found. The operation was subsequently stood down, pending further information.”
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police confirmed they had been acting on a concern for welfare call.
There have been further reports of the police helicopter circling the river at Broadgate during Sunday lunchtime.
Blog Preston has contacted Lancashire Police for further information.
