Police investigating the disappearance of a North-East man in Greece could decide today whether to send officers out to Athens.

The international hunt for Melvyn Gamblin, from Darlington, may be stepped up following an internal review of the case.

A spokesperson for Durham police said the review will consider the possibility of sending officers to Athens if there are leads to follow.

Detective sergeant Dave Wilkes, who is leading the case, said the distance and language barrier between the two countries were causing some difficulties.

Mr Gamblin flew out to Athens on August 9 to watch the Olympics and was last seen by staff at his hotel on September 3. He was due to fly back to the UK later that day but never boarded his easyJet flight.

Police are working with the Greek authorities, with the aid of Interpol and the Foreign Office, to find Mr Gamblin, who suffers from ME.

The investigation took a strange twist before the weekend with the arrival of a photograph of Mr Gamblin at his home address. It was posted from the Greek capital but had no note or explanation attached.

Police said yesterday that they have managed to find out where avid sports fan Mr Gamblin was when the picture was taken.

Investigating officers showed the photo to an old university friend of Mr Gamblin, who met him while in Athens on holiday, and he was able to say where it was taken.

"He recognised from the scenery and the railings that the photo was taken from a caf on Lycabettus Hill - a famous hill with spectacular views of Athens and the surrounding area," said a police spokesperson.

"We still don't know when it was taken and who sent it."

Mr Gamblin's parents, from Bristol, and his brother Bryan, from Edinburgh, are all being kept informed.