Luke Durbin disappearance: Police search Suffolk woods

Members of Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue are briefed before searching the area

Police investigating the disappearance of a Suffolk man five years ago are searching an area of woodland.

They are combing the area around Foxhall Stadium in Ipswich in the hunt for Luke Durbin, 19, of Hollesley, near Woodbridge, who was last seen in 2006.

Police believe a possible sighting of Mr Durbin near the stadium is now more significant than they first thought.

A man at the stadium reported seeing a young man matching his appearance on Friday, 12 May, 2006.

The eyewitness saw the man resembling Mr Durbin walking towards the nearby water tower between 07:30 and 08:00 BST.

Search dogs

Mr Durbin was reported missing by his mother Nicki the following day.

Specialist police officers supervised a search on Sunday by members of the Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue and the National Search and Rescue Dog Association.

Detectives have reviewed CCTV footage from Ipswich town centre and saw Mr Durbin near the Old Cattlemarket bus station at 04:00 BST on 12 May.

The inquiry team also received information about a sighting of Mr Durbin between 11:00 and 14:00 BST on Saturday, 13 May, 2006 in Woodbridge.

He was in a dark blue Renault Megane seen near the Turban Centre.

In November 2010 detectives from the Norfolk and Suffolk major investigation team took on the case and reviewed the evidence and inquiries so far, leading to the new search.

'Unlawfully killed'

Senior investigating officer Det Ch Insp John Brocklebank said the stadium sighting could now prove to be useful and may reveal an extended route Mr Durbin took.

"If this man is right, then we have a further confirmed sighting of Luke later on that Friday morning and it then opens up several lines of inquiry," he said.

"By carrying out a detailed search of the area, we can see if there are any items of clothing or other material, which may suggest Luke was in the area as this man suggests.

"Although this still remains a missing person inquiry, we are looking at all possibilities of what has happened to Luke, which includes Luke being unlawfully killed."

Anyone with any information about Mr Durbin's disappearance is asked to contact the Norfolk and Suffolk major investigation team or Crimestoppers.