THERE is still a strong belief that missing RAF airman Corrie McKeague will be found alive as the search enters its fourth week.

The 23-year-old from Dunfermline hasn’t been seen since a night out in Bury St Edmunds on September 24 but Suffolk Police said the nature of their investigation has not changed.

A spokesperson said: “We are still throwing our resources into several lines of enquiry and there is nothing sinister to suggest that a third party is involved in the gunner’s disappearance.

“There is still a heavy police presence in the area as we ask local residents, businesses and landowners to check outbuildings and property in the ongoing bid to find Corrie.”

A former pupil of St Columba’s High School, he has not been seen since 3.20am, September 24 after a night out with friends in Bury St Edmunds.

His father, Martin McKeague, has been handing out leaflets in the town in a desperate appeal to anyone with information .

He said: “I would do anything to get my son back.

“Corrie is a people’s person. He loves being around people. He’s really, really easy to talk to. He wants that interaction with people. He makes people feel happy. He’s that type of guy.”

Celebrity chef and Norwich City director Delia Smith has shown her support, she was photographed with the RAF Honington serviceman’s missing person poster at Saturday afternoon’s match, and told a fan she would “keep Corrie in her prayers.”

Thousands of posters and leaflets have been handed out with a police helicopter and search dogs joining the mission.

The search has covered the 10 miles between Bury St Edmunds and the RAF base and has now been widened, while police have ruled out a link to the attempted abduction of a serviceman near RAF Marham, Norfolk.

Mr McKeague said: “People don’t just vanish. Just now that’s what it looks like. We know that can’t have happened.

“We still need people to come forward. I know the police are doing everything they can. I’ve witnessed this myself. Not just police, but the search and rescue and the RAF.

“There are no words for it. I just can’t thank everybody enough for what they’re doing.”

Corrie was last seen wearing a pink shirt, white trousers and brown suede Timberland boots and can be seen on CCTV walking away from the town centre with a takeaway meal in hand.

Signals from his phone showed the Nokia Lumia was at one time in the Barton Mill area.

Corrie’s mother, Nicola Urquhart, said: “What is completely unusual is that he wouldn’t contact his family, girlfriend or one of the boys from the base.”

Police said they were seeking two individuals who were in Bury St Edmunds on the Saturday morning and appealed for them to get in touch.