James Bubear: woman contacts Bath student search police

The family have put this image of the missing student James Bubear on thousands of leaflets

A woman sought as part of the inquiry into the disappearance of Bath student James Bubear has come forward.

Detectives issued an appeal in a bid to identify a woman seen speaking to Mr Bubear, from Llandrindod Wells, Powys, on CCTV the night he went missing.

Mr Bubear, 19, was last seen leaving a fancy dress party at the Revolution bar in George Street, Bath, on 13 March.

Avon and Somerset Police said the woman made a statement but it had not helped to "progress the investigation".

CCTV captured Bath Spa University student Mr Bubear walking along James Street West, outside the Odeon cinema.

Just after 2300 GMT, it showed him talking to a woman opposite Green Park Station, at the junction of James Street West and Charles Street.

At the time the images were released an Avon and Somerset Police spokesman said they were together for about five minutes, and seemed to know each other.

At one stage James 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.

Det Insp Charlotte Tucker, of Bath CID, said: "We are very grateful to this woman, as we are to everyone who's helped this inquiry, for contacting us and telling us what happened that night during her conversation with James.

"Unfortunately it hasn't helped us to progress the investigation."

Police have searched the River Avon and routes Mr Bubear might have walked on the way to his student flat on the Lower Bristol Road, but no trace of him has yet been found.

At the weekend members of his family and friends joined in a march to highlight his disappearance.

The march on Saturday took place along the likely route he took home, starting at Revolution bar.

Mr Bubear had been at a masked ball and was wearing 70s-style retro clothes. Since then, he vanished without trace.

His family in Llandrindod Wells are desperate for news.