Football legend Kenny Dalglish yesterday joined in the appeal for information in the search for a young man missing in South Uist for two weeks.

Football legend Kenny Dalglish yesterday joined in the appeal for information in the search for a young man missing in South Uist for two weeks.

Nautical student Simon MacMillan, 21, was last seen around 3am on Boxing Day in the township of Linique in the north-west of the island. Police said yesterday that a vehicle is believed to have been parked in the area at the time and appealed for information.

Mr MacMillan was getting off a minibus taking revellers back from a Christmas dance at Daliburgh, further south on the island, when he was last seen.

This would have left him about two-and-a-half miles from his home at Ardmore.

An intensive search of the area has been ongoing involving divers, dog teams, helicopters, boats and hundreds of islanders.

Dalglish, who last summer was installed as president of the Askernish Golf Course on the island, said: "I am appealing for anyone with any snippet of information that could help locate Simon to come forward.

"Simon is a great lad, a great piper and a keen footballer. If anyone saw anything, no matter how insignificant they think it is, they should tell the police."

He added: "I have got to know the islands over recent years and was not surprised to see the huge community support for the MacMillan family and the hundreds of people that are turning out to search for Simon."

Police revealed yesterday that they want to trace a car which was seen near the spot where Simon was last reported.

A spokesman said: "Northern Constabulary are keen to hear from the driver or passengers of a vehicle believed to have been parked on the Ardkenneth Road, near to St Michael's Church, Ardkenneth, South Uist.

"This vehicle is believed to have been in this area about 3.30am on December 26 and police request the occupants contact them on 01851 702222."

St Michael's church is a little to the south of Linique. It is understood that the car was parked in the driveway to the church.

Meanwhile a team of divers from Strathclyde Police, who were carrying out a systematic search of the small lochs around Linique, last night concluded their efforts without results and were returning to the mainland.

The Trossachs Dog Search Team arrived yesterday, with members of the team having volunteered their own time to help in the search but with storm-force winds forecast, the major search looks likely to be disrupted.

Police have appealed to islanders not to search over the weekend in the interests of their own safety.

However, one islander told The Herald: "The weather is looking pretty bad but if we get a chance at all we will get back out to look for Simon."

Mr MacMillan's father Angus yesterday repeated his appeal for anyone with information to come forward.