FRIENDS and family of missing hiker Jeffrey Moore left for the Austrian Alps yesterday in a bid to find him.

The group of seven left Portchester in a two-car convoy to make the trip to the alpine resort where the 37-year-old was staying with his fiancee Marilyn Burt when he went missing.

Efforts by the Austrian mountain rescue service failed to find Mr Moore, who disappeared after going for a solo hike to a well-known beauty spot in the Alps.

Once in Austria, the group will distribute 2,000 flyers printed in four different languages to locals and also track the route that Mr Moore was taking when he disappeared two weeks ago.

Co-ordinating the five-day trip, Cliff Johnson said the group's aim was just to find their friend.

"I have known Jeff most of my life and I'm keen to help any way I can," he said.

"Our hopes are very high to jog somebody's memory. For someone to remember that they'd seen him would be a lovely start. Any news would be good. At the moment it's almost like the Bermuda Triangle has swallowed him."

He thanked local people for helping fund the mission with donations.

"The people of Portchester have been very supportive. There's been some good funding for the trip and I thank all of them."