A PAIR of feet found on the banks of the River Severn could be those of missing Manic Street Preachers star Richey Edwards, pictured.

Police probing the discovery of the training shoes, containing the remains of human feet, confirmed they were checking files on missing persons to discover the identity - including Blackwood-born Richey Edwards.

The lyricist and guitarist with the chart-topping band was last seen seven years ago last month.

His car was later found at the Aust service station by the Severn Bridge - but he had disappeared without trace.

And despite television appeals by his family and unconfirmed sightings in Goa and the Canary Islands, his whereabouts remain a mystery.

Officers continued searching the River Severn yesterday, following Saturday's discovery of the remains on the riverbank.

The feet, found near Caldicot inside two training shoes, are due to be examined by a Home Office pathologist later today.

Inspector Dave Moses, of Caldicot police station, said: "At this moment we are still waiting for a Home Office pathologist to examine the remains, and local inquiries are still being carried out to check the missing persons register."

He added: "The trainers are a Diadora make and are royal blue in colour with white flashings. There is no size visible, but they would appear to be between size seven or eight.

"There is nothing to indicate that any injury or damage was done to the feet."

The first trainer was discovered by a fisherman walking near the village of Sudbrook near the second Severn crossing at approximately 7pm on Saturday evening. He saw a trainer on a sandbank, which, on closer examination, contained a sock and bones, and he contacted police.

A search of the area was carried out and police located a further trainer which also contained bones.

Gwent Police have continued to search the area with help from the Severn Area Rescue Association and the force helicopter.

Though the find was initially linked with the remains of a 38-year-old woman found minus a foot near Peterstone last month, subsequent inquiries have proved that the feet washed up this weekend do not belong to that body.