Police tell public not to search Yarm School for Luke Jobson

Friends and family searching for missing Luke Jobson have been told that police "cannot facilitate" public searches.

Around 100 people are thought to be searching areas around Yarm School on Monday morning.

Luke disappeared in the early hours of Saturday morning after a night out in Yarm.

But Cleveland Police has asked for patience from those who have joined in searches for the 22-year-old - and asked them not to go onto the school's grounds.

The force said in a statement: "Police are aware that members of Luke’s family and friends had planned to attend areas around Yarm School to search for him this morning (Monday).

"While we completely understand their concern and distress at his disappearance we have to warn anyone who turns up that unfortunately we cannot facilitate public searches at this stage as specially trained police search teams remain in the area.

"Furthermore Yarm School grounds are private property and it would be inappropriate for people to turn up and access this land.

"Again, we acknowledge this public search was organised in the very best interests of Luke and his family but we would ask them to work with police and be guided by experienced and specially trained officers who are well versed in safe, resource effective search methods."

Police had earlier said that Luke's disappearance is out of character.

It emerged on Sunday the Thornaby man may have been involved in an incident in the High Street with claims on social media that he was seen running away from a gang of males.

He was seen outside The Keys, on Yarm High Street, before going up towards Osbourne's.

He was last seen near to Yarm School at around 2.15am. He was wearing black jeans and a grey polo top.

In the meantime the force is continuing its appeal for anyone with information about Luke, including dash cam footage or private CCTV, to contact Cleveland Police via the 101 number quoting event number 14944.