A pile of clothing found on the end of Brighton's Palace Pier has been identified as belonging to a missing man.

Police fear 50-year-old Gerald Barnes, from Warwickshire, may have jumped into the sea.

His clothing was discovered by pier security staff yesterday morning. Police today were trying to trace Mr Barnes's W-registered Citroen car.

Police spokeswoman Carolyn Bond said: "Mr Barnes has relatives in Brighton and Southampton and we urgently need to speak to anyone who may have seen him."

Mr Barnes is 5ft 9in with black, receding hair, brown eyes and tattoos on both arms and hands.

Anyone with information should call Brighton police on 0845 6070 999.