Concerns growing for welfare of 21-year-old, who has not been seen since Thursday

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

The mother of missing university student Libby Squire has revealed that her daughter made it back to her student house on Thursday night shortly before she disappeared.

As the search entered its third day, hundreds of volunteers joined the police and coastguard teams to search for the philosophy student.

Police had previously suggested the 21-year-old had got out of a late-night cab close to her student home in Hull.

But in a Facebook post, her mother, nursery worker Lisa Squire, said her daughter – who had been on a night out with friends – had arrived back at the house before her disappearance.

“She got out of the taxi at her house. She was home … simple,” she wrote.

She was responding to a post asking why Libby “got out of taxi before getting home”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Libby Squire. Photograph: Humberside police/PA

Since her disappearance, more than 200 volunteers have joined 70 police officers and the Hull coastguard rescue team searching the city for her over the weekend.

Her mother also thanked University of Hull students and friends who have helped look for her daughter, as concerns grow for Squire’s welfare.

On Facebook, Lisa said Squire was “obviously loved by so many people” and searchers’ efforts were a “great comfort” to her and her husband, Russell.

Her family said her disappearance was “out of character”, adding that she is “a very thoughtful and caring young woman who puts others before herself”.

On Saturday, police officers were going door to door in the area. Squire was reported missing after getting into a taxi outside the Welly club on Beverley Road, Hull, at about 11pm on Thursday, and is believed to have got out of the vehicle a short while later near her home on Wellesley Avenue.

Humberside police said she was helped by a motorist who pulled over after spotting her in the street. The force said the motorist had since contacted them and helped out with the search.

Police urged people living in the area to check their gardens and outbuildings in case Squire had taken shelter.

Hundreds of students were involved in the search of the university premises, which was organised by her friend Ryan Tweddell.

The second-year student said: “It was great to see so many students turn out to support the search for Libby. We can’t believe the community came out in the numbers they did, it just shows how much people care.

“Libby is a loving, down-to-earth, typical, normal student. She is hardworking, helps everyone who needs it and is a lovely, brilliant girl.”

In a statement, the university said it was “deeply concerned”. A spokesman added: “We are working closely with Humberside police to support their search for Libby and offering support to Libby’s family at this distressing time.”

Meanwhile, crime scene investigators were seen taking away a screwdriver found in bushes on the junction of Beresford Avenue and Beverley Road – opposite where the student was last seen.

A lipgloss was also spotted on the junction and taken away in an evidence bag.

Investigators swabbed the door of a property on Wellesley Avenue. The team were at the property for over an hour and also used ultra-violet light and torches on the front door.

On Sunday afternoon officers were also searching properties in the areas surrounding where Squire was last seen. She is described as 5ft 7in tall with long dark brown hair. She was wearing a black leather jacket, black long-sleeved top and a black denim skirt with lace at the time of her disappearance.