A private detective helping in the search for missing student Victor Ivanelo said his family are "very worried and confused" as the search enters its ninth day.

Andy Kemp, a former police officer, has been hired by the 21-year-old student's family to help find him after he disappeared leaving a friend's house in Esher on Sunday, February 26, at 2am.

Surrey Police officers are now "extremely concerned" for his welfare after his bag, mobile phone, keys and headphones were found at the side of a bridleway in Woodstock Lane South in Chessington by a horse rider later that day.

Surrey Comet:

He was spotted on CCTV travelling to Claygate from Clapham Junction station on Saturday, but officers said not a "single sighting" of the student has been reported.

Mr Kemp said it was "unusual" for no one to have spotted Mr Ivanelo while he has been missing.

He said: "Normally there would be a sighting but somewhere but there hasn’t been any. It’s difficult to know where to go from here.

"You’re effectively waiting for something for something to happen."

Mr Kemp, who ran a missing person's desk at the Metropolitan Police for eight years, said he was hired by the Russian student's parents who flew to the UK last Monday.

He said: "I spoke to his housemates and the chap who saw him last. I spoke to the lady who found the bag, and handed [the information] over to the police.

"I’ve been to where the bag was found to see what it looks like and made suggestions to make searches from there. I’m almost a consultant if you like.

Mr Kemp said Mr Ivanelo's parents, who understand some English but are not fluent, "don't know what to think".

Surrey Comet:

He said: "They’re very worried and confused and not sure what was going on. My son went to the University of Surrey only three years ago so I can imagine the horrific feeling of helplessness of what’s going on.

"It’s still going on [the search]. It’s really awful, they don’t know what to think. It’s very strange.

"They want something to be happening now – we just have to wait and hope that something comes up."

Mr Ivanelo, who went to boarding school in the UK and is fluent in English, was wearing a three quarter length green puffa jacket, headphones and was carrying a bag when he was seen travelling to Claygate.

Surrey Comet:

Teams from Surrey Search and Rescue have been involved in the search along with police dogs, drones and helicopters.

When he was last seen leaving his friend's house in Esher on February 26, he had been wearing a grey formal jacket, blue jeans and smart shoes and was carrying a black over-the-shoulder Hugo Boss bag.

He was not wearing his glasses at the time.

Mr Ivanelo's permanent address is in south west London but he has student housing in Guildford. Officers said he has not been seen at either address since his disappearance.

Anyone with information should call Surrey Police on 101 quoting reference 45170020251