FORENSIC officers have spent another day clearing scrubland in a popular woodland walk as the search continues for the remains of man who has been missing for more almost 30 years.
Cleveland Police is carrying out a fresh search of Saltburn Valley Gardens as the murder investigation into the disappearance of Steven Clark continues.
The 23-year-old went missing in 1992 during a family walk along Saltburn promenade.
His parents, Charles and Doris Clark, were arrested when a cold case review was launched last September. They have since been released from police bail and are facing no charges in connection with their son's disappearance.
Now detectives are carrying out a forensic examination of the woodland near to where Mr Clark was last seen live as they continue to search for his remains.
Officers will be in the area over the next few days looking through undergrowth from the bottom of the Valley Gardens to the top of a walkway near to the Spa Hotel, which is on a steep edge of the bank.
They were cutting down shrubs and bushes in a bid to clear the area and carry out a forensic search of the hillside while several police vehicles were cordoned off inside one of the town's busy car parks.
Yesterday, the area was busy with daytrippers enjoying time at the seaside as lockdown restrictions begin to lift cross the country.
Martin Watson, who was visiting the gardens with his two-year-old son Ben, said: "We were quite surprised to see so many police vehicles when we got here but the police are just getting on with their work and not stopping people enjoying the day."
Steven, who walked with a limp as a result of a childhood road accident, is said to have walked on the beach from Marske to Saltburn at around 3pm on the day he disappeared.
The missing persons report says that he went to use the gents' public toilets near to the pier on the promenade in Saltburn, when his mother went into the ladies at the same time.
Despite a high profile campaign at the time Mr Clark's disappearance remains a mystery.
Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 anonymously or can provide information into the investigation team through 101.
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