POLICE searching for a missing man have found the remains of his car at the bottom of a cliff.

Gareth Cuthbert disappeared from Saltburn early on Christmas Day wearing a white sweatshirt, jeans and trainers. He was thought to have been driving a red VW Golf.

Cleveland Police yesterday confirmed the wreckage of the car had been found at the foot of sea cliffs between Boulby, east Cleveland, and Staithes, North Yorkshire.

The cliffs rise to 500ft and are among the highest in Britain.

Coastguard and police teams combed the surrounding area on Boxing Day, and continued their search yesterday aided by air support, but failed to find Mr Cuthbert.

Police last night appealed to the public for sightings of the red car, registration N52 EWJ, or any information about Mr Cuthbert's whereabouts.

Officers are liaising with the missing man's family to try to determine where he might have gone.

A police spokeswoman said: "Our hope is he has not been in the vehicle, but until we find him fit and well we are not sure what has happened. We are holding on to the hope that he is fit and well."

A spokeswoman for the coastguard said two teams had been searching the cliff area but had found nothing.

Anyone with information about Mr Cuthbert is urged to contact Sergeant Gary Hatton on (01642) 301552.