Abandoned van in Methwold, Norfolk, investigated by police after Help Find Missing Corrie McKeague Facebook group tip-off

Corrie McKeague on CCTV outside The Grapes pub in Bury St Edmunds Archant

An abandoned white van is today being investigated by police looking into the disappearance of RAF Honington serviceman Corrie McKeague.

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Corrie McKeague (new images) Corrie McKeague (new images)

The van is said to have been abandoned in Methwold, north of Thetford, for around four weeks – with Corrie last seen after a night out in Bury St Edmunds four weeks ago on Saturday.

Appeals to find the RAF Regiment gunner, from 2 Squadron, hit national breakfast television this morning (October 20), with the mother of Corrie, Nicola Urquhart from Fife, Scotland, appearing on ITV’s Good Morning Britain and BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire Show.

The abandoned Transit-type panel van was reported on the Help Find Missing Corrie McKeague Facebook page, with Mrs Urquhart passing the information on to the police.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police today confirmed they were going to search the van, but they do not believe it is connected to the disappearance of the 23-year-old, from Dunfermline.

Interview with Corrie McKeagues mother, Nicola Urquhart. Interview with Corrie McKeagues mother, Nicola Urquhart.

What we know and how you can help with the search for Corrie

During the interview on Good Morning Britain, Mrs Urquhart pleaded with anyone with any information on Corrie’s whereabouts to come forward.

She said: “Corrie is quite clearly seen on CCTV walking in the middle of the road and then into this loading bay where vehicles and bins and stuff are.

“He never gets seen coming back out. There’s not one image of Corrie on CCTV in the entire area of Bury that’s been captured.

Dog search and rescue looking for Corrie McKeague near Ingham. Left to right, Dave Forster and Kevin Waterson. Dog search and rescue looking for Corrie McKeague near Ingham. Left to right, Dave Forster and Kevin Waterson.

It would take an expert with months of preparation to be able to avade that – and Corrie wasn’t trying to.

“There’s been no preparation, there’s been no planning. He was just vanished – and as a police officer I know that doesn’t happen.

“Somebody else must be involved because he’s not seen leaving on foot at all.”

She repeatedly stated that she believes Corrie is still alive, but did admit that there is a possibility he could be dead. She ruled out Corrie running away on purpose, saying he made no preparations, had not been paid and was making plans to come and see his family in Scotland.

Corrie has been based at RAF Honington for three years and is said to have been enjoying his time in Suffolk. He was known to try and walk home after nights out, with police still searching the rural areas surrounding Bury. He was last seen at 3.24am Saturday, September 24, on Brentgovel Street, walking into a refuse and loading area behind the Greggs bakery and Superdrug shops.

His phone, a black Nokia Lumia, is believed to have travelled to the Barton Mills area, from Bury. It was traced using cell data and has not been turned on anywhere in the country since around 4.30am September 24.

Police are still appealing for anyone who may know where the phone is to come forward and continuing to ask local residents, businesses and landowners across the Bury, Barton Mills and Honington area to check any outbuildings and property in the ongoing bid to find Corrie.

Private owners of CCTV cameras, vehicle dash cameras and bike mounted cameras who were in the area on the Saturday morning are also being asked to come forward, even if Corrie can not be seen in the footage.

Corrie was wearing a distinctive light pink coloured shirt and white trousers when he was last seen. He is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build, with short light brown hair.

Anyone with information should call the incident room on 01473 782019, phone Bury police station on 101 or phone Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111