Coronation Street killer Richard Hillman is helping in the hunt for missing teacher Jane Longhurst.

Hove-based actor Brian Capron, who played Hillman in the TV soap, will open an auction at a fund-raiser for Jane's school.

He has also contributed a signed copy of murder board game Cluedo, which will go under the hammer at the event on Friday.

He has agreed to do anything he can to help create publicity to aid the investigation.

Detectives yesterday admitted they had no leads in the search for Jane, 31, who has been missing for almost three weeks.

They said her failure to contact her mother on Mother's Day meant she had probably been killed.

Mr Capron agreed to host the auction on behalf of Uplands School, Brighton, in January - two months before Jane vanished from her flat in Shaftesbury Road.

Paul Atkins, head of Uplands, said he and staff had considered cancelling the event while the police investigation continued.

He said: "We are acutely aware of the sensitivity of the situation but have decided, despite the circumstances, to go ahead.

"The event will raise money to take the children on a school visit to Belgium in May and that is a positive thing.

"The only thing that would prevent it taking place was if there was some dramatic news about Jane."

Jane, a member of the Sussex Symphony Orchestra, was due to perform at the auction, which will be held at the Langfords Hotel, Hove.

She was last seen by a neighbour on March 14 at 2.40pm. Since then, her mobile phone has been switched off and her bank account has not been touched.

Despite a huge investigation involving 100 officers, police have been unable to find any clue to Jane's disappearance.

Her boyfriend Malcolm Sentance, her sister Sue Barnett and her mother Liz have all made emotional appeals for help.

The disappearance has become one of the most baffling cases the force has dealt with. One detective said: "It's just like a Sherlock Holmes mystery."

Burnt clothing, found near Preston Park, close to her home, is being examined by forensic experts to see if there is a connection.

But officers are doubtful as the garments include two baseball caps, which Miss Longhurst never wore.

Miss Longhurst's family insist there was no way she would walk away from her life, which suggests she was kidnapped.

Police need to speak to a woman with a girl of about 12 seen on the pavement as Miss Longhurst walked to her front door at 2.40pm on the day she vanished.

The appeal for these two potential witnesses first went out late last week but they have still not been traced.

Police have continued searches and revealed at a Press conference yesterday that they had even examined wall cavities at Miss Longhurst's home.

Even the home of Miss Longhurst's mother in Reading has been checked along with addresses and empty properties in the vicinity of Shaftesbury Road.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve Dennis, heading Operation Keen, said a cell of nine officers was working on intelligence reports but he admitted there was still nothing concrete to go on.

He said: "One thing we are pretty sure of - Jane did not leave her home of her own accord. I believe she is the victim of crime.

"We believe she has been abducted and probably killed."

Anyone with information about Jane's disappearance should call the Operation Keen incident room at Brighton police station on 0845 6070999.