Missing best man 'sighted'

Ian Gilbert organised the trip to Ostend in Belgium

The search for a 25-year-old man who went missing during a stag trip to Belgium is continuing after claims that he has been spotted.

It is understood a member of the public contacted police to say they had seen a man fitting Ian Gilbert's description.

Police were concerned that best man Ian Gilbert - known as Golly - may have drowned after going missing as his 27-strong group headed back to a hotel in Ostend after a stag night.

Mr Gilbert, an advertising rep from Crowborough in East Sussex, helped organise the trip for groom Mark Rosier last Friday.

The family and friends of Golly are very grateful for the tremendous effort and the resources that the Belgian Police have invested into his disappearance

Charlotte Gilbert

Close family friend Paul Gray said the police were investigating the reported sightings.

"The police are investigating a sighting but it is yet to be confirmed.

"It is the first positive piece of news and that is a good thing but I find it highly unlikely that Ian is sitting around in bars."

Mr Gilbert vanished in the early hours of Saturday morning as the group of stag night revellers took a route from the town centre to their hotel.

Friends say his disappearance is completely out of character.

Posters with Mr Gilbert's photograph have been put up across Ostend.

Family man

Mr Gilbert's wife, Charlotte, said he was a devoted family man.

Mr Gilbert has two stepchildren with his 34-year-old wife.

She said: "The family and friends of Golly are very grateful for the tremendous effort and the resources that the Belgian Police have invested into his disappearance."

Sussex Police are continuing to liase with Belgian detectives in the hope they can find Mr Gilbert.

Meanwhile, the Belgian air force has been searching the coastline around Ostend.