Police have renewed an appeal for information about a canoeist who vanished off the north-east England coast six months ago.

John Darwin, 51, a prison officer at Holme House prison in Stockton, was last seen near rocks at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, on 21 March.

Witnesses reported him entering the sea with his kayak at 0800 GMT but the alarm was not raised until 2130 GMT when he had failed to arrive at work for a night shift.

Mr Darwin's body was never found although a red canoe was discovered weeks after his disappearance.

Tragic accident

Detective Inspector Bob Bussey, of Cleveland Police, said a number of people on the beach at the time have not come forward.

They want to speak to a wind surfer who was in the water at the time and three men in a car which was parked near the golf club.

The occupants then walked towards the dunes.

Mr Darwin's wife Anne has also appealed for more information.

She said she believed her husband had died after an accident at sea.

Mrs Darwin said: "I have no reason to think he would have left and stage-managed this.

"All I want is to bury his body."