THE discovery of a man hiding in a makeshift den after a huge search of the countryside is being linked to the disappearance of teenager Jenny Nicholl.

Mountain rescue volunteers with tracker dogs were brought in to search countryside around Hudswell, near Richmond, on Friday evening.

After a hunt lasting all night the man was eventually found in a crudely constructed den in a field between Hudswell and nearby Downholme at about 8am on Saturday.

The middle-aged man was taken to the Friarage Hospital, in Northallerton, conscious but suffering from hypothermia. It is understood he had been spotted in the Hudswell area on Friday. Rescue volunteers were told by police they feared he might harm himself.

North Yorkshire Police have refused to comment other than say the incident was connected to an ongoing inquiry. But it is understood the man was questioned about the disappearance of 19-year-old Jenny Nicholl. She was last seen at her family home in Richmond, on June 30.

Her white Rover 214i was found abandoned in the car park of the Holly Hill Inn, on the outskirts of the town, four days later.

Police have searched fields and woodland around Richmond, including the Hudswell area. House-to-house inquiries have also been carried out.

Friday's search was co-ordinated by Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team (SMRT). Tracker dogs and handlers from Teesdale and Cleveland helped on Friday night. Extra search and rescue volunteers joined the search at first light on Saturday.

Paul Titcomb, from SMRT, said: "The man's condition was very serious and he would almost certainly not be alive today were it not for the work of SMRT," he said.

On Friday, police spoke to music fans at a Darlington Festival event in the hope that they could shed light on the teenager's disappearance.

Miss Nicholl is a keen guitarist and played in a local rock band several years ago.

Senior police officers have vowed to continue the search for her. Det Insp Pete Martin said: "A month on, we remain fully committed to finding her safe and well and successfully, ending this difficult investigation."

The teenager's parents, Brian and Ann Nicholl, have previously spoken of their distress and have urged anyone with information on their daughter's whereabouts to call police on (01423) 539334.