No trace has been found of a West Sussex teacher who disappeared in his plane after being quizzed over child pornography allegations.

Gerry Mepham, 55, of Elm Grove, Barnham, near Bognor, disappeared on January 10 after taking off in his Piper Tomahawk from Goodwood airfield.

A major sea search was launched by the Transport Department's Air Accidents Investigation Branch but no evidence of the plane was found.

Inspector Brian Bracher of Sussex Police said: "It is likely that the plane did crash into the sea but we are still treating this as a missing person inquiry."

Checks were made with airports in northern France but there have been no sightings since RAF radar traced a plane, thought to be the Piper Tomahawk, flying out to sea before disappearing from the screen.

Mr Mepham was an experienced pilot and had owned the plane for several years but he was not trained or qualified in night or low flying.

He was facing allegations of offering two pupils cash for posing for photographs. He had been suspended from Priory School in Portsmouth.