A television appeal for information about a missing mother-of-two has drawn a blank.

Detectives searching for Elaine Taggart, 48, of Ferring, appealed through the BBC programme Missing Live for anyone who had seen her to come forward.

Despite receiving some reports of sightings, the calls have failed to point officers to where Mrs Taggart is.

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Hibbert, of Sussex Police, said: "As a result of the television appeal we had possible sightings.

"We followed them up and they were negative."

Mrs Taggart, a catering finance manager for Chartwells at Brighton College, has been missing since January 3. Police have made detailed searches of the Taggart family home in Ferringham Lane, Ferring, near Worthing, and used specially trained sniffer dogs in nearby woods.

The house's front and back gardens have been dug up, as has a building site just yards away, but DCI Hibbert said nothing of significance had been found.

Mrs Taggart's husband of 14 years, Andy, was arrested on suspicion of murder on April 8, questioned for 36 hours and then released on bail.

Anyone with information about Mrs Taggart's whereabouts is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 quoting Operation Gordon.