A mystery man who stunned carers by giving a virtuoso piano performance could be from Sussex.

Medics are investigating a tip-off from a caller who thinks the man is from the county and it is one of the strongest leads they have so far.

The man has not spoken a word since he was discovered more than a month ago wandering on a beach on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.

All efforts to communicate with the shy and agitated man have failed and experts are baffled as to his identity.

The man, in his 20s or early 30s, was found in the early hours of April 7, dressed in a dripping wet suit and tie.

Staff at the Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham hoped he would write his name or draw his country's flag.

Instead, the patient, dubbed the "Piano Man", drew highly detailed pictures of a grand piano, showing not only the keys but also the intricate inner workings of the instrument.

His social worker, Michael Camp, showed him a piano in the hospital chapel and to Mr Camp's amazement the man delivered a stunning two-hour classical performance.

Since then he has written music but has not talked.

A helpline set up to identify him has been inundated with calls and a member of the public has given the name and address of who they believe he may be.

Mr Camp said: "A name has been given of a possible person from the Sussex area. I haven't been able to check it out. We had one before from the local area and it sounded promising but we'll have to wait and see."

Mr Camp, who is based at the accident and emergency unit at Medway, has investigated several theories about the man.

It was initially thought he may have attended a funeral but inquiries proved he had not been to any services in the area.

Then interpreters from Poland, Latvia and Lithuania were brought in to see if he was from Eastern Europe and possibly an asylum seeker.

He is now being held in a secure mental health unit in north Kent until a full assessment has been carried out.

Karen Dorey-Rees, adult mental health manager for the West Kent NHS and Social Care Trust, said the man might have gone through a severe trauma.

She said: "He's not talking at all. He's very frightened. He's drawing but not to communicate.

"We are aware he is a very vulnerable man and we would be putting him in a dangerous situation if we let him go.

"At the moment we are continuing to care for him and assess his needs."

A trust spokesman said: "The call with the Sussex suggestion is one of many we have received and we will be looking into it.

"The National Missing Person's Helpline has received more than 160 calls and they are continuing to come in.

"We will work with them and relevant information will be passed to the police."

The case has drawn comparisons with the Oscar-winning 1996 movie Shine, which tells the story of pianist David Helfgott who suffered a nervous breakdown while playing.

Marjorie Wallace, the chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said:"It is not uncommon for the language of music to remain intact even when all other mental processes may be shattered by physical, emotional or mental trauma."

Anyone with any information about the man should call the National Missing Persons Helpline on 0500 700700.