THE family of missing father Lee Brown watched on today as police divers trawled the River Tees in an effort to find his body.

The last confirmed sighting of the 24-year-old was at about 11.25pm on Saturday, April 25, near to the River Tees Watersports Centre in Stockton and divers from Northumbria Police searched the Tees today near the town's Infinity Bridge.

Mr Brown, who has a young son, had been at a party on the Teesside Princess boat on the evening that he went missing. He got off the boat in Stockton and was reported missing when he failed to contact family or friends.

His mother, Violet Brown, did not speak today but last week made an emotional appeal.

She said: "We are desperate to know where Lee is. "He is a devoted and loving dad and son and it is out of character for him not to contact us. We need anyone who thinks they may have seen him to contact police."

A spokesman for Cleveland Police said: "Police are continuing to examine CCTV footage in an effort to trace Lee’s last steps and are still keen to hear from anyone who saw Lee since his last confirmed sighting at around 11.25pm on Saturday 25th April near to the River Tees Watersports Centre in Stockton."

Mr Brown is 6ft 5in tall, blond, with blue eyes and of muscular build. He has a panther tattoo on his left arm, a tiger tattoo on his right leg and the name 'Harrison' tattooed across his shoulders. Anyone with information should call police on the non-emergency 101 number.