POLICE are trying to piece together the last movements of a man reported missing more than a week ago in a Reginald Perrin-style mystery.

Concern is mounting after clothing belonging to the man, whose identity has yet to be confirmed, was found last Friday morning on a boat moored on the banks of the River Medway at East Farleigh, near Maidstone.

It echoes the fictional disappearance of Reginald Perrin, the television character who staged his own death to start his life over again.

A search of the area has found no trace of the man, described as slim, about 30 to 40 years old and with scruffy blond hair.

It is thought he was wearing orange shorts and training shoes, last Thursday afternoon, telling witnesses he was hot and fancied a swim.

He was seen going into The Bull Inn pub in Lower Road, East Farleigh, where he asked for a glass of water and spoke to a number of people. He then left and was seen going up to a green 4x4 vehicle, taking a shirt from it and talking to two people inside before heading for the river.

Police were contacted by the owner of a boat moored nearby who had become concerned.

Officers searching clothes left on a neighbouring cruise boat found a quantity of cash along with a receipt from Tesco Express.

A CCTV image retrieved by police shows the man visiting the store in Tonbridge Road, Maidstone, at 11.56am on Thursday last week.

Police spokeswoman Gianna Pollero appealed for anyone who might have seen the mystery man to come forward.

She said: “We are having real trouble tracing any details about him. It is all a bit of a mystery. The worst possible scenario is that he has drowned. Another is he has disappeared and been reported missing from elsewhere.

Anyone with information about the man’s disappearance is asked to contact Maidstone and Malling Police on 01622 608189.