Cadet's family still wait in hope

Blake Hartley disappeared after a night out in Chamonix

The father of an army officer cadet missing in the French Alps for 10 days says foul play has not been ruled out.

Blake Hartley, 25, from Shropshire, has not been seen since walking home alone on 7 August after a night with fellow cadets from Sandhurst Military Academy.

The group was in France for a training exercise and searches with sniffer dogs and a helicopter have been fruitless.

The cadet's father, David Hartley, from Golding Hall, says police in Chamonix are checking DNA obtained from a car.

"Although foul play hasn't been ruled out, I want to keep myself positive," Mr Hartley said.

"He is a missing person and, as such, he will turn up."

The alarm was raised after the father-of-one failed to return to camp.

The search for the cadet has now been scaled down.