Hat ‘similar to the one’ worn by Sarah Everard not related

As reported by Sky News, a cream wool hat was discovered in a bush by a passer-by on Clapham Common at about 11am today.

Cream hat found on Clapham Common [Image: Sky News]

The colour and material appeared to be similar to the one worn by the 33-year-old when she was last spotted five days ago. 

However, Police have confirmed that the hat "is not believed to be linked to the incident."

As the Wandsworth Times reported previously, CCTV footage - understood to have been from a private doorbell camera - showed that Sarah was last seen at approximately 9.30pm on Wednesday, March 3.

She was walking alone on the A205 Poynders Road, from the junction with Cavendish Road, in the direction of Tulse Hill.

CCTV of Sarah on Wednesday night [Image: Met Police]

Sarah had been at a friend's house in Clapham that evening and, leaving the property in Leathwaite Road through a back gate onto the A205 South Circular, she began to walk to her home address in Brixton.

She is thought to have walked across Clapham Common and was expected to arrive home approximately 50 minutes later.

It is unclear if she returned to her home address. She has not been seen or heard from since.

Sarah was last sighted wearing a green rain jacket, navy blue trousers with a white diamond pattern and turquoise and orange trainers.

Items of clothing worn by Sarah on the night of her disappearance [Image: Met Police]

She is described as 5ft 4in (162cm) with a slim build and blonde hair.

Sky News added that roughly an hour after the hat was found police cordoned off the area on Clapham Common.

Detectives took photos of the hat and then placed it in an evidence bag to be taken away for tests.

The family of Sarah Everard made a fresh appeal for anyone with information on her whereabouts to come forward.

Sarah Everard, 33 [Image: Met Police]

In a family statement reproduced by the Met Police that thanked the police and urged the public to help find Sarah:

"With every day that goes by we are getting more worried about Sarah.

"She is always in regular contact with us and with her friends and it is totally out of character for her to disappear like this.

"We long to see her and want nothing more than for her to be found safe and well.

We are desperate for news and if anyone knows anything about what has happened to her, we would urge you to please come forward and speak to the police," the statement read.

Detective Chief Inspector Katherine Goodwin said: "I would like to stress that there is no information at this stage to suggest anything untoward may have happened to Sarah.

"The focus remains on returning her home to her family safe and well and that is our number one priority.

"I would like to thank Sarah’s family and friends, the local community and members of the public for their help to raise awareness of this appeal and for coming forward with information.

"I would urge anybody who has information or noticed any suspicious activity in the area to contact us if you haven’t already."

Anyone who has seen Sarah or who has information that may assist the investigation should call the Incident Room on 0208 785 8244.

Information can also be provided to detectives using the Major Incident Portal or by calling Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.