by Alan Quick

A BODY has been found in woodland near where Crediton man, Martin Wood, went missing off Cha-am beach in Thailand on December 30.

Martin Wood (48) was last seen leaving the Dream Boutique Hotel, Petcharburi, 76120 Cha-am, Thailand by hotel staff, not at around 5am on December 30 as was first believed but at 5.38pm in the evening of December 30, according to the hotel CCTV.

Martin has not been heard from since and did not catch his flight home, which was due to return on Friday, January 12.

According to Thai sources, police are now waiting for an autopsy to confirm whether the body is Martin.

Martin had been a frequent visitor at the hotel for four years.

He had apparently booked a month-long stay with his family and disappeared three weeks into his visit.

A friend of Martin’s, Paul Stevens, and the Wood family, recently set up an on-line fundraising appeal.

Paul explained on January 12: "Martin is my best mate we were best man at each others wedding.

"He failed to arrive home on his flight today and this I believe is day 13.

"We have seen CCTV of Martin at 5.38 in the evening not the morning as previously reported.

"We have a private investigator looking for him and the UK Police and Interpol are also involved.

"Posters have been put up in Cha-am offering a reward for information.

"It is very important we can fund what we need to do, and hopefully we can piece together his direction of travel, etc.

"I really hope people will donate to the fund so that we can do all we can to find him. Myself and the Wood family would be very grateful."

The Lucie Blackman Trust, which supports British victims overseas, issued an appeal on its website and on social media a few days after Martin went missing.

The Trust says Martin is 5ft 10 ins tall, of medium build, with thinning mousey brown hair and blue eyes.

He was said to have last been seen wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

The Trust asks that if anyone has any information, to please get in touch.

From the UK you can telephone the central Freephone information line on 0800 098 8485. Calls are free from landlines but may be charged from mobile telephones.