There is a huge police presence in Newhaven tonight, a councillor has said.
Police have been seen in and around the town with officers at the top of Denton and on the South Downs, from Cantercrow Hill, reportedly searching for missing couple Constance Marten and Mark Gordon.
Councillor for Ouse Valley and Ringmer Sean Macleod told The Argus he went to speak to the police, who told him they were searching for the "missing couple".
Police have not yet confirmed this is the case.
Constance, 35, and Gordon, 48 - a convicted sex offender - and their four-week-old baby have been missing since their car broke down and burst into flames on the M61 on January 5.
Recent CCTV footage showed the couple in Newhaven at 4.56am on Sunday, January 8.
They were carrying a number of bags and a blue tent, and officers believe they have been camping in the area.
Cllr Macleod posted in a social media post warning residents: “There is a big police presence and search and rescue presence at the top of Denton tonight they are searching for the missing people.
“They will be here for some time please don’t be alarmed nothing else is going on.”
The councillor told The Argus: “I can see them and went out to speak to them and they gave me permission to put that post out to reassure people.
“They're going onto the Downs from the top of Cantercrow Hill quite a number of them.
“They told me they were searching for the missing couple.”
When The Argus contacted Sussex Police a spokeswoman said neither them nor the Metropolitan Police were currently aware of search activity in the Newhaven area tonight.
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