A family have made a tearful plea for a missing man to return home as police launched a search to find him.

Arif Khan, 31, was last seen at his home in Brunswick Place, Hove, at about 5pm on Friday, July 14.

He has not made any contact with his family or friends since, which they say is out of character.

Yesterday, Sussex Police began searching a field at the University of Sussex campus where Mr Khan was once a student.

Ten officers combed the ground in the densely vegetated field.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: "Mr Khan had recently been depressed and this particular wooded area is something that was dear to him for sentimental reasons. This is the first place we have searched but there are other lines of inquiry we will check."

Members of Mr Khan's family have travelled from Cardiff to Brighton and have been circulating posters of him in the city.

Mr Khan has been living in the city since leaving the University of Sussex in 1996. His family are devastated at his disappearance and have started to fear the worst.

His brother Shomon Khan said: "We were on holiday abroad and as soon as we heard we came back.

"He is somebody that is a really happy guy, who is full of life. It is such a shock that he has disappeared. That is why we are giving flyers out, doing anything we can.

"My mum and dad can barely talk they are in floods of tears. We all feel guilty that maybe we missed something.

"His girlfriend has come over from Germany and his wife, who he separated from five years ago, is worried sick."

Mr Khan is a British Asian, 5ft 10ins tall and slim. Anyone who may have seen him should call police on 0845 6070999.