Devon and Cornwall Police are ‘growing increasingly concerned’ for a man’s welfare, who has been missing since Saturday, December 28.

Ricky Gamage, 23 from Bude, was last seen at The Venue — Bude’s bowling alley — at around 8.35pm on the Saturday.

Following their initial appeal, police are now following some new lines of enquiry.

A phone has been found by the police (amongst other items) in a pile on the beach just north of Crooklets (known locally as Wrangle Point).

The police stated that these items may have been collected during a beach clean and piled ready for collection/ disposal.

Police are keen to speak with anyone who can give any information as to where and when this property was collected and by whom.

In addition to this, police are following up an enquiry in relation to a sighting of a male who was seen in Bude on Saturday, January 4.

According to them, they have information that the male linked to this sighting may be staying in a caravan in the Stibb area of Bude.

They are now seeking information as to the location of any places that have any caravans, (especially if it is not one of the local holiday parks) that are being let or rented.

Sergeant Allan Seth from Bude Response C Team said: “Whilst other enquiries are being investigated, I encourage anyone with any information that can help with any of our enquiries especially the two above to please get in touch with us on 101 quoting log 897 of 28th December 2019.”

Ricky was last seen wearing a blue beanie hat with an unknown logo; a khaki green North Face hooded jacket; a grey ‘Venue’ logo t-shirt; black skinny jeans, which had a tear on the left thigh; and black Dr Martin boots.

He is described as six foot two inches tall; with dark hair; a dark-coloured goatee beard; green eyes and a tattoo sleeve down his right arm.

Other reports have suggested their have been a number of unconfirmed potential sightings of him in Barnstaple, on the M5 at Burnham on Sea, the M5 at Taunton and on the M6 at Junction 11.

Ricky’s step-sister, Nicole Rachel said: “We are all desperate to find him, and just want to know that he is safe and well and we are there to support him always.”