Appeal over woman seen speaking to missing Bath student

Friends painted Mr Bubear's face and eyes with make-up at the party

Detectives searching for a missing student are appealing for a woman seen speaking to him on the night he disappeared to come forward.

Bath Spa University student James Bubear, 19, had been at a fancy dress party at the Revolution bar in George Street on Sunday night.

Mr Bubear, from Llandrindod Wells in Powys, was last seen leaving the venue at 2230 GMT and walking off alone.

Officers have released CCTV images of Mr Bubear after he left.

A police spokesman said at the party, friends had painted Mr Bubear's face and eyes with make-up.

CCTV cameras captured him walking along James Street West, outside the Odeon cinema.

Just after 2300 GMT, he is seen talking to a woman opposite Green Park Station, at the junction of James Street West and Charles Street.

An Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said they were together for about five minutes, and seemed to know each other.

At one stage Mr Bubear and the woman hugged

The young woman left and Mr Bubear sat down in a doorway nearby.

The force spokesman said his mobile phone and passport were found there by a street cleaner on Sunday morning.

Ch Insp Simon Ellis said: "It's very important that the woman seen with James contacts us immediately.

"We believe she may have important information about how James was that night, what his immediate plans were and perhaps which way he was thinking of walking home.

"From the CCTV images it seems that they knew each other and spent about five minutes talking.

"At one stage they hugged before the young woman went on her way, and James sat down in that doorway for around 15 minutes."

Police have been searching the River Avon and routes Mr Bubear might have walked on the way to his student flat on the Lower Bristol Road.