Boat hits bridge in central Paris

A French pleasure boat with 12 people on board has hit a bridge pillar on the River Seine in central Paris.

Two passengers, a man and his six-year-old son, are critically ill after being rescued by divers. Ten others who had jumped into the water were pulled out.

The cause of the accident near Notre Dame is being investigated by police.

There are suggestions that the boat collided with a larger tourist vessel before hitting the bridge and sinking.

The accident happened just before 2200 local time (2000 GMT).

Hugh Schofield in Paris says the Seine is always busy with pleasure boats on summer Saturdays but serious accidents are extremely rare.