POLICE say clothing found in the search for missing North-East student Matthew Jordan does not belong to him.

A pair of jeans and socks were discovered over the weekend as dozens of people searched an area of the Lake District.

Mr Jordan disappeared from Bowness, near Windermere, Cumbria, in the early hours of March 27.

The 20-year-old Teesside University student, from Nunthorpe, near Middlesbrough, was out with friends when he was last seen.

The items of clothing were found separately in woodland about two miles from Bowness. They were understood to have been wet, but were not on the shoreline of the lake.

About 80 people - many family and friends from the North-East - turned up to help in a huge search party around the Windermere area on Saturday.

The search was continued today (Sunday, April 6) and police thanked the public for their help.

Detective Inspector Furzana Nazir said: "I would like to thank everyone who has volunteered their spare time over the past two days to help in our search for Matthew.

"Everyone who has turned up has been very motivated and keen to be out looking and searching in the wet and cold weather conditions.

"Their support has helped us to search a vast area in awful weather conditions and this is really appreciated."

She added: "Yesterday, some items of clothing were found, police have conducted initial investigations and can confirm that they believe the pair of jeans found were not Matthews.

"Our search today has been focused in more rural locations, including the shoreline, however nothing significant has been found."

Det Insp Nazir said there had been reported sightings.

"Members of the public have continued to phone us and we have had two possible sightings of Matthew in the Lakes area, however these sightings have been investigated and I can confirm that these were not Matthew," she said.

Mr Jordan is described as 6ft tall, of medium build, with dark brown hair. He was last seen wearing a navy long-sleeved shirt, jeans and grey pull-up boots.

Anyone with information should the call the 101 non emergency number or Missing People in confidence on 116 000.