First confirmed sighting of missing Liam Colgan

19 February 2018, 15:10 | Updated: 19 February 2018, 15:12

The family and friends of Liam Colgan who went missing after a stag weekend in Hamburg have revealed details of his first confirmed sighting.

It was a short time after they had last seen him in the Veermaster Bar and the finding "creates new lines of inquiry" now being investigated by police.

Hamburg Police have been using search dogs and searching the Buxtehude area, next to Hamburg railway station where Liam was reportedly seen on Wednesday and Thursday.

The search is being assisted by The Lucie Blackman Trust which has seen an unprecedented amount of calls and emails providing further potential sightings and information.

It is currently sifting through photographs, CCTV and other intelligence in the search for Liam.

The family said in a Facebook page set up to find Liam they are encouraged by a regular stream of reports about a "confused Scotsman" wandering the city of Hamburg.

In a tweet about the news, the trust said: "We now have a first CONFIRMED sighting of Liam Colgan.

"Whilst this is only shortly after he was last seen, it is still positive news and we are following several other leads."

Chief executive Matthew Searle of the trust said: "Although there have been quite a few sighting of Liam, this is the first one that's definitely him."

The confirmed sighting follows the recovery of a man's body from the River Elbe which was not Liam.

His brother Eamonn said: "I'm obviously incredibly relieved that this was not Liam however pass on my condolences to the family involved in what must be a horrible time for them.

"My brother is still out there and we are still receiving sightings. We need to find Liam and bring him home to his family and friends."