Specialist police are to continue combing woodlands in Fife in the search for a man who has been missing more than two years.

A police sniffer dog unit started scouring Redwood Woods this week as part of the investigation into the disappearance of Allan Bryant, who has not been seen since he left Styx nightclub in Glenrothes at around 2am on November 3, 2013.

The new search is focusing on forest close to Scotland’s Secret Bunker south of St Andrews.

The police operation came after a member of the public came forward with new information.

Family and friends of Mr Bryant, who was 24 when he disappeared, have pushed to keep his case in the public eye and a Facebook page to help the search has 71,000 members.

Mr Bryant's sister posted: "Today has been such a difficult day for us all knowing that there is people searching for my big brother and waiting for updates.

"At this moment, all my family know is that the police will be conducting more searches tomorrow in the same area."

His father Allan Bryant snr posted: "My family have kept this quiet for certain reasons today is going to be another really difficult day for my family as we all await on the outcome of this new search.

"We want to thank you all so much for your support ."

Hundreds of well-wishers passed on messages to the family online, and more than 2,000 liked the page.

Tracy Henderson posted: "Hope you get answers soon, it’s gone on way too long now, love and hugs for you all."

Another said: “Please God, bring him home to his family."

The family have dedicated themselves to finding out what happened and have set up a wider campaign.

At one stage they commissioned their own sniffer dog unit following claims Mr Bryant was sighted at party in woodlands later on the night he disappeared and an area known as Muchty Woods was searched.

It has been reported the family believes Mr Bryant has been murdered.

They were also targeted by online trolls and one man was jailed after sending messages claiming to have tortured and killed Mr Bryant.

Mr Bryant Snr said that the "situation is tearing me apart and is a living hell for my family, but we won't let Allan be forgotten".

"We have to bring him home.

"I have put the details of Allan's disappearance on a great many missing person websites."

Police have also appealed to anyone else who has information Mr Bryant's whereabouts after last being seen on CCTV shortly before he disappeared to come forward.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: "Acting on information received from the public, specialist resources are today conducting a search of woodland in the St Andrews area as part of the ongoing investigating into missing man, Allan Bryant.

"Anyone with information about Allan's whereabouts, or his movements after leaving Styx Nightclub in the early hours of November 3, 2013, is urged to come forward immediately."