Charity page raises thousands for parents of missing student Libby Squire

A fundraising page set up to help the parents of missing student Libby Squire has raised thousands of pounds as detectives continue to question a 24-year-old man in connection with her disappearance.

The 21-year-old was reported missing in Hull more than a week ago and an intensive search has been mounted by police and volunteers since then.

On the ninth day since her disappearance, officers scoured gardens and alleyways in the area around Miss Squire's home and digital missing posters were unveiled in the city centre.

Detectives are continuing to question a man on suspicion of Miss Squire's abduction after being granted a further 36 hours detention on Friday morning.

The man was arrested on Wednesday night at a house on Raglan Street, about half a mile from Miss Squire's home.

Two police cars remained parked on the street on Saturday.

A JustGiving page set up on Thursday has raised more than £3,000 for the family of the University of Hull student, who is originally from High Wycombe, in Buckinghamshire.

Craig Hopkins, who set up the page, wrote: "Libby's parents obviously have a tremendous amount to deal with at this time and the last additional problem they need is any financial concerns, especially as their daughter is a student in Hull, which is a considerable distance from the family home in Buckinghamshire.

"Even if you can only spare a few pounds, please do so, as all money raised will be sent to Libby's parents to assist them financially at this emotionally challenging time."

Ms Squire's parents, Lisa and Russ, issued a statement earlier this week thanking people for their support in trying to find their daughter.

Humberside Police also thanked the public for helping them in their search for Miss Squire as they revealed digital posters in the city centre featuring pictures of the student and an appeal for information.

Miss Squire was last seen on Thursday January 31 when she got a taxi from a nightclub.

Officers have said Miss Squire was dropped off near her home on Wellesley Avenue at 11.29pm on Thursday January 31 and was seen around 10 minutes later near a bench on Beverley Road, where a motorist stopped to offer help.

Police are believed to be examining CCTV footage which shows a man getting in and out of a car minutes after the last sighting of the student.

The footage, obtained by ITV News, appears to show a man sitting with his legs out the driver's side door of a parked vehicle in Hull, close to where the philosophy student is thought to have disappeared.

He leaves the car and, a minute and a half later, a man then is seen opening the front passenger side door and moving around before getting behind the wheel and driving away at around 12.09am on February 1.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, Humberside Police said that the force is "still very much treating her disappearance as a missing person's inquiry".

On Saturday, a number of police vans and cars were parked in the locked car park of Oak Road Playing Fields, near Miss Squire's home, and officers were seen searching the gardens of houses backing on to the fields.

Police used sticks and cameras to search the gardens and alleyways, while police community support officers stood on guard nearby.

A dog walker said police had knocked on her door to ask if they could search her garden. She said Miss Squire's disappearance had shocked the local community and added that she was concerned about walking her dog in the dark since the student went missing.

The University of Hull said the student wellbeing team was available for anyone who needs support at the weekend.