A POLICE chief leading a major search for a university student has said his disappearance is "totally out of character".

A specialist marine search unit has been scouring the River Foss in central York for Ethan Peters, who was last seen in the city centre in the early hours of Monday.

A section of the Piccadilly shopping area has been cordoned off as divers look for clues near Clifford's Tower.

Officers have also been reviewing CCTV in the Coney Street area, where the University of York television and film undergraduate had been socialising with friends and a helicopter has been brought in to search areas around the city centre.

North Yorkshire Police inspector Martin Metcalfe said: "Ethan's disappearance is totally out of character and we are keeping an open mind about his disappearance."

He said Mr Peters' family had been allocated a personal officer by police to support them. He added: "It's horrendous, they are coping remarkably well.

"We are into the fourth day now, we're very concerned about the whereabouts of Ethan. However, we have to remain positive, we have to have an open mind.

"We've got a confirmed sighting on Coney Street, near Spurriergate, which is in the direction of his home address, so obviously we're working our way along the route that he would normally take."

Police described Mr Peters as slim, about 5ft 9ins tall, with dark brown hair. He was last seen wearing glasses, jeans or chinos, a black jacket and a navy blue polo shirt.

Anyone with information should call police on 101.