Police search teams began sweeping the River Thames after they received a tip-off a murder weapon had been dumped by Wandsworth Bridge.

On Wednesday morning, officers launched an initial three day hunt for the gun used to shoot Darcy Austin-Bruce, 20, from Fulham, who was killed outside Wandsworth Prison after going to visit an inmate on May 1, 2009.

After receiving fresh information the gun had been thrown into the Thames from Wandsworth Bridge, police began scouring the river bed around the bridge.

However, the search has been extended into this week after a barge on the south side of the river bank was unable to be moved and prevented police from searching that area.

Detective Chief Inspector Gordon Allison, of Operation Trident, who is leading the investigation team, said: “We received intelligence that the firearm may have been flung into the river.

“We want to send out a message that we are going to keep going, and we are going to go that extra mile.

“We will put as many resources into the job as possible and it is something that we haven’t forgotten.”

Rupert Ross, 29, of Vera Road, Fulham, Khori Hines, 34, from Rosebury Road, Fulham, and Casper Smith, 27, of no fixed address, have all been charged with murder.

They appeared at a case management hearing in February and will face trial later this year.