Police say they are following up the latest sighting of Dr Stevens

Greater Manchester Police say a woman has come forward who believes she gave Dr Stevens a lift on Monday.

She told them he was on his way to Dorset.

The sighting of the 54-year-old children's doctor, who disappeared in July, is the first for several weeks and officers say they are encouraged by the report.

The woman was travelling on the Branscombe to Beer road in Devon, at about 1500 BST on Monday, when she saw a man in his 50s struggling to carry a large rucksack.

She gave him a lift into Beer, where she dropped him at a bus stop. During the journey he said he was heading for Lyme Regis, in Dorset.

We are very encouraged by this possible sighting as it is the first we've heard of where he could be for several weeks Sergeant Julie Connor

Police say she described her passenger as a white man, with black hair and large metal-framed glasses. He was wearing a green top and blue "outdoor" trousers which did not match his black leather work shoes.

The woman reported the incident to the police after seeing an article about Dr Stevens in the Guardian newspaper, saying she is convinced the man she gave a lift to is the missing doctor.

Dr Stevens left his home in Brooklands Road, Sale at 650 BST on 21 July, arriving at Pendlebury Children's Hospital 20 minutes later.

He was seen on CCTV arriving at the hospital's main entrance but has not been seen since.

'Devastating disappearance'

Officers say they are continuing to investigate reported sightings of Dr Stevens and are also monitoring his mobile phone and his bank accounts.

Sergeant Julie Connor, who is working with Richard's family to help them find him, said: "We are very encouraged by this possible sighting as it is the first we've heard of where he could be for several weeks."

She said officers from Devon and Cornwall Police were interviewing the driver on Tuesday.

"If the passenger wasn't Richard and you were the man who received the lift to Beer bus stop with a large rucksack, please get in touch so we can eliminate this sighting from our enquiries.

"Richard's family are devastated by his disappearance and more than anything else just want to know that he is safe and well."

Anyone with information about Dr Stevens' whereabouts can contact police at Salford.