A desperate search for a young teacher who was abducted from outside her Port Elizabeth home early on Tuesday continued throughout the night as devastated family members and friends joined the massive police manhunt.

Early on Wednesday morning‚ police regrouped and continued to search for Jayde Panayiotou‚ 28‚ of Kabega Park.

In developments late on Tuesday night:

- A reward for the safe return of Panayiotou‚ 28‚ of Kabega Park‚ was increased to R150‚000‚ family members told The Herald;

- Police found an abandoned Mazda 323 – previously reported stolen in the Walmer area – believed to have been used in the abduction — the car was found in New Brighton and forensic experts were still combing the vehicle for clues at midnight;

- Police called in additional manpower‚ including members of the dog unit‚ to help with the search‚ which was concentrated on bushy areas between Port Elizabeth and KwaNnobuhle; and‚

- A police helicopter was dispatched to help the search as new leads came in.

Panayiotou disappeared without a trace just minutes after talking to a close friend at about 6.30am on Tuesday.

It is feared that she was abducted by at least two men‚ one of whom withdrew money from her bank account about one and a half hours after she went missing.