THE family of a Scot missing in Hamburg has said a body pulled from a river yesterday was not his.

Liam Colgan, 29, from Inverness, disappeared in the early hours of February 10 during his brother Eamonn’s stag weekend in the German city.

Yesterday, German media said a body had been recovered from the River Elbe, but Eamonn said: “The police have contacted me and told me the body recovered from the river this morning is not Liam,” Eamonn said.

“I obviously can’t say who they think it is and they have no reason to tell me but the description does not match Liam. We are putting a plan together about what areas we need to target next.

“Until we hear anything otherwise we can’t give up the search and we have to remain optimistic.”

A statement released on behalf of the family said: “We are aware of rumours circulating about discovery of a body in Hamburg. At this point there is nothing to suggest this has any connection to Liam Colgan. Therefore please continue to share and support the appeal.”

Police are continuing their search, while the missing man’s friends have set up a Twitter account and Facebook page to appeal for information.

Yesterday, a worker at a bakery outside Hamburg spoke about an apparent sighting of Liam.

Bettina Diwinski said a co-worker was “certain” he visited Dietz bakers in Buxtehude on Wednesday – four days after he disappeared.

“We saw a photograph of the man in the newspapers and we realised he had been here,” she said. “One of my colleagues is certain she saw him. He looked lost and confused and then he left the shop. He looked lonely.”

Her statement follows reports of other apparent sightings of Liam in Buxtehude, which is about 15 miles south of Hamburg.