Volunteers join search for missing student Antoine Maury Published duration 29 October 2016

media caption Volunteers scour the area

About 100 volunteers joined police in Edinburgh in the search for a French student who has been missing since Monday.

Antoine Maury, 21, was last seen at 22:30 after leaving friends at Edinburgh College's Milton Road East Campus.

His parents and sister joined Saturday's search, which was focused on the area of Holyrood Park.

Police said the response from the public had been "fantastic".

Insp Alan Carson, of Police Scotland, said: "So many people have expressed a willingness to help find him as quickly as possible and I know that his family are extremely grateful for the support of the people of Edinburgh."

image caption Antoine Maury's mother Laura took part in the search for her son

Insp Carson also appealed for anyone who may have seen Mr Maury to come forward.

He added: "If you have information in relation to a sighting of anyone like Antoine's description leaving the park area, somewhere else in the park, please, please phone it in."

Mr Maury's sister Emilia said at the scene of the search: "I would like to thank everyone that came today and all the people that are supporting us via social media and messages. That really counts.

"I am calling everyone to seek for my brother Antoine. We all miss him really much and we really hope to find him soon.

"We are searching for a living person - we are still living on that hope and I just ask all of you to help us out because we all need support and we need help from everyone."

image caption Mr Maury's sister Emilia expressed hope that her brother was still alive

Mrs Maury issued an appeal to her son on Friday, urging him to come home and saying he was not in any trouble.

She called on people living in the area to check their outbuildings and garages.

Mrs Maury also appealed for information from anyone who may be sheltering her son.

Police said there was a possible sighting of a man matching Mr Maury's description near the Duddingston Village area of Holyrood Park, heading into the park, on Monday between 22:45 and 23:00.

The man was topless.

Laura and Pascal Maury said their son's disappearance was completely out of character.

image caption Mr Maury's mother and sister Emilia joined the search

Mrs Maury said her son was well liked and had been enjoying his studies in Scotland.

He has been a student at Edinburgh College for three months.

Ms Maury said: "We are desperate to find Antoine and are appealing to anyone who might have information as to where he is or know if someone is sheltering him.

"We want him to know that we love him, he is not in trouble and for him to come home.

"We ask that anyone living in the area to please check their outbuildings and garages again to confirm that Antoine is not hiding there.

image copyright Katie Spence image caption Antoine Maury has a bleeding hand tattoo on his forearm

"He is a very happy young man and there is no reason to believe my son would run away."

Mr Maury was described as white, of medium build, 6ft with short brown hair, a beard and has a bleeding hand tattoo on his forearm.

He has a good level of English, but was unfamiliar with Edinburgh.

He has lost his glasses and his eyesight is not very good.