Police in California have resumed their search for Naya Rivera after the Glee actress went missing on Lake Piru on Wednesday afternoon.

The 33-year-old rented a small boat and went out on the lake with her four-year-old son Josey Hollis Dorsey but just three hours later the boat was found drifting with the child asleep onboard.

Josey, who is now being looked after by family, is said to have told police that he and his mother had been swimming in the lake prior to her disappearance. Her life jacket was still on board the boat.

Divers began an immediate search of the area last night but were forced to halt their efforts due to fading light, although the search resumed at around 5.30am PT (1.30pm UK) today.

A statement from the Ventura County Sheriff's office read: "The search for Naya Rivera will continue this morning at Lake Piru. The lake will be closed to the public while search operations continue. Dive teams from throughout the region will be assisting us through mutual aid."

According to TMZ, authorities are now treating Rivera's disappearance as "a possible drowning" and "believe Naya may have lost her life in the lake".