The body of a woman has been recovered from a vehicle that plunged into the River Clyde near Glasgow.

Police received a report of a car entering the water near to Lapwing Road in Renfrew, close to Intu Braehead shopping centre, at about 1.20pm on Thursday.

A search was conducted by divers from Police Scotland's marine unit and a woman was recovered from the vehicle.

The car, which had one person in it, was seen driving ''at speed'' and clipping another two cars before breaching the metal fence and entering the water, according to a small crowd gathered at the scene.

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: ''I heard a loud noise and minutes later there were police everywhere, then the helicopter arrived.

''I heard that it was a woman driving alone.''

Police, fire and coastguard teams were all in attendance.

Two coastguard rescue teams from Helensburgh and Greenock and the HM coastguard helicopter from Glasgow were also used.

A police statement said: "At around 1320, police received a report of a car entering the River Clyde near to Lapwing Road, Renfrew.

"A search-and-rescue operation was immediately launched involving officers from Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and HM Coastguard.

"A full search of the water surface has been conducted by divers from Police Scotland's marine unit and a woman has now been recovered from the vehicle.

"She was the only person in the car. A post-mortem examination will take place in due course to establish the exact cause of death.

"The car remains in the water at this time and efforts are ongoing to remove it."

Enquiries to establish the exact circumstances of how the vehicle came to enter the River Clyde are continuing, with crash scene examiners conducting an investigation at the location.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Greenock police office on 101.