DETECTIVES are hoping fundraisers might help piece together the last movements of a time-share salesman whose disappearance four years ago has sparked a murder hunt.

Officers leading the inquiry into the presumed death of Kevin John Palmer, known as John, say he was last seen alive in the Bishop's Waltham area on March 12 - the same date the Comic Relief Red Nose Day was being staged in 1999.

They are hoping the information might help prompt people's memories of where they were and what they saw the night of the 37-year-old's disappearance.

In particular detectives are keen to trace a taxi driver who they believe witnessed an argument after picking up Mr Palmer along with two other men and a woman from the Abshot Hotel and Country Club at 1am on March 13.

Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant Jim Park said: "We were not aware until recently that the night in question is the same night that Comic Relief was held that year.

"We would hope that this might help people remember what they were doing that night and look deeper into their memories to find something that could help us.

"We have also yet to find the taxi driver we believe witnessed an argument that night between two men in the back of his car. Perhaps the knowledge that this was Comic Relief night may help jog his memory."

Meanwhile police are continuing to sift through the number of calls made by the public after launching the murder inquiry last week during a two-week search of a property in Hoe Road in Bishop's Waltham.

The house belongs to jailed drug dealer John Howett.

Mr Howett's wife Tracey has been seen at the property over the weekend.

Det Sgt Park said the response had been good from the public, adding that a team of forensic officers were continuing to examine items removed from the Hoe Road home last week.