A MAN who was rescued from the River Itchen in the early hours has been rushed to hospital with facial injuries after residents heard his screams for help.

Police are searching for a car seen in the area at the time after they were called around 1am this morning to reports of a 27-year-old man in the water near the jetty of Priory Road and Adelaide Road, near St Deny's railway station in Southampton.

Coastguard and ambulance crews were also called to the scene before the man was taken to hospital and treated for facial injuries.

A spokesman from South Central Ambulance Service said: "We were called by the Coastguard at 1.06am on Wednesday who advised us that a male was in the water.

"We sent an ambulance to the scene and once the patient (27 years old) had been recovered from the water by the Coastguard.

"We took him to University Hospital Southampton suffering from hypothermia."

Officers are appealing for anyone who witnessed any disturbances in the area around the time, and are particularly keen to trace a dark-coloured vehicle which was seen leaving the car park by the jetty area at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, quoting reference '44170306269', or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.