MORE searches are being carried out today as police intensify their efforts to find missing Southampton mum Charlene McClusky.

The 29-year-old barmaid has been missing since Wednesday, February 11, at the Richmond Inn pub on Portswood Road where she works.

Since then officers have been carrying out a number of searches and launched a high profile missing persona appeal in a bid to try and find Charlene.

The force helicopter and marine units have been involved in the searches so far but today officers will be concentrating their efforts on the Gordon Avenue area in a bid to try and find Charlene's handbag and phone that they believe could be discarded in the area.

She was then spotted on Gordon Road, just off Portswood Road, at around 12.30am on Thursday about an hour after she was last seen at the pub. The same witness passed the same point around 1am but Charlene no longer appeared to be there.

Charlene also telephoned police just after 1am and was described as being very emotional. It's not known where she was at that point and led to police launching missing person enquiry and appeal.

Detective Inspector Simon Baker said: “This has been a very distressing time for Charlene's family and we're continuing to support them through our Family Liaison Officer.

“We've had an excellent response to the appeal so far and I'd like to thank everyone who's contacted us. We still need to hear from anyone who thinks they may have seen Charlene particularly in the Southampton area around the time she went missing.

“One of our lines of enquiry is trying to trace her mobile phone and handbag which she may have discarded. That's why we've been searching the bank of the Itchen. Our Marine Unit has also been out on the water to assist. Today we're focusing our efforts on Gordon Avenue.

“If you've spotted either her phone or handbag, please let us know. It could prove a vital piece of information.”