DETECTIVES leading the search for a missing Hampshire father-of-two were today checking through telephone and bank records in the hunt for clues to his whereabouts.

It is now a week since Martin Ellis was last seen after he dropped his 15-year-old son Sean off at Testwood School in Totton. He never reported to work that morning.

Last Saturday police found Mr Ellis's white BMW car parked in Southampton's WestQuay shopping centre car park.

Officers are still studying closed-circuit TV footage from the car park and nearby coach and train stations to see if it can shed any further light on the 40-year-old's mystery disappearance.

The car contained a car park ticket timed at 8.30am on Tuesday, September 30.

Det Sgt Craig Dibden said: "We now know what time the car was left and we are carrying out routine missing person inquiries to find out Mr Ellis's movements. We are looking through telephone records and bank details to see if that will tell us anything."

Martin Ellis left his home address, Slater Close, Totton, at about 8am last Tuesday to drop his son off at school.

The contract draughtsman failed to turn up to work at Gifford and Partners in Lyndhurst.

His distressed wife Julie and two children told the Daily Echo on Saturday that his disappearance was completely out of character .

They also made an emotional appeal for him to get in touch.

Mr Ellis is described as white, 6ft 2in, with a stocky build and short brown hair.

He has piercings in his ears and at the time he left his home he was wearing a green Ben Sherman jumper, a grey-blue polo shirt, beige trousers and red trainers.

Det Sgt Dibdin added: "He is readily identifiable, but could change his appearance in time, so sightings of him will be welcomed sooner rather than later."

Anyone who has seen Mr Ellis since 8.30am on Tuesday, September 30 should contact Det Sgt Dibdin at Lyndhurst CID on 0845 045 4545.