THE 17-month mystery of missing Hampshire schoolboy Daniel Nolan took a bizarre new twist last night when Hampshire police confirmed they were liasing with Dorset colleagues over the discovery of the remains of a human foot on a beach in Swanage.

The remains, along with a training shoe and a sock, were recovered on May 15. But Hampshire police say they were only informed of the find in Dorset yesterday.

Now the Nolan family is facing another agonising wait and the missing boy's mum, Pauline, told the Daily Echo: "This is the sixth time we have been through this scenario with bones or human remains being found in various places and us having to hold our breath.

"It certainly doesn't get any easier every time you get that phone call - and telling the children gets harder all the time because you see their little faces drop.

"But we have learned that we have to just sit and wait it out until you get the results and then have to deal with whatever comes out of it."

A Hampshire police spokesman said the bones and items of clothing found at Swanage had been sent for forensic and DNA analysis and it was anticipated that the results would take several weeks - although police could not confirm the exact timescale.

Mrs Nolan, pictured, added: "Both the trainer and the sock appear to be consistent with those worn by missing Hamble teenager Daniel Nolan - but we await the results of the tests to establish identity."

Daniel's parents, Pauline and Greg, were immediately informed of the latest development in the search for the King Edward VI schoolboy who was 14 when he disappeared after going to the main pontoon at Hamble foreshore on a late night fishing trip with pals on New Year's Day last year.

No trace of him has so far been found, but before yesterday's development police said they were keeping an open mind about whether bones found near Hook-with-Warsash nature reserve in February this year were those of the missing Hamble teenager.

Last night police said they were still awaiting results of the latest DNA tests conducted on the bones found in Warsash - although last month they admitted the tests would not be totally conclusive.

Mrs Nolan said she had been told that Dorset police had carried out a search after the human remains, a DC trainer and a sock were discovered. But they had not found anything else.

"I feel this is far more real than the Warsash scenario. The DC shoe is making me feel that way," said Mrs Nolan.

But the Hamble mum - who has always had a steadfast faith that her son is alive and will eventually be found - also said that DC shoes were very popular, many people were missing and that she felt the discovery of the remains in Swanage was not consistent with Dan's disappearance.

She added: "I maintain that if this is Daniel - and we don't make assumptions as far as this family is concerned - then personally I feel that it is foul play because the logic doesn't weigh up at all."

Mrs Nolan confirmed that police had told the family it could be weeks before they know the outcome of DNA and forensic tests.