Police fear for star athlete missing from 2012 training

Fears were growing today for an athlete who has gone missing as he was being groomed to compete at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Ross Clarke, 21, has not been seen since he left home in Rainham, Essex, five days ago.

He is rated among the top six 1,500m runners in Britain and is one of an elite group being coached by Eamonn Martin, the last British man to win the London Marathon.

Scotland Yard said he left home at 1.30pm on Friday and is believed to have travelled to Southampton. His family raised the alarm after he failed to return home and police said they are growing more anxious for his safety.

No one has seen or heard from him since.

Clarke, who represents Basildon Athletic Club, has already received honours at national level in several junior age groups and won county and southern England races.

Keith Bottjer, a coach at Basildon AC, said Clarke was a "promising young talent" and an "extremely nice lad".

He said: "Ross is an Olympic hopeful and was running well last year. I must admit I have not seen him for a number of weeks - whether he had given up or had injury problems I do not know."

He is about 6ft 1in with blue-green eyes, fair hair and a slim build.

Anyone with information should call Romford CID on 0300 123 1212.