An Italian man found with apparent memory loss is being questioned by police back home amid reports he searched the internet for "how to disappear without a trace".

Salvatore Mannino, 52, was discovered in St Giles' Cathedral, Edinburgh, last month and had no idea who he was, according to Police Scotland.

The businessman, who remains under supervision in hospital, had gone missing from Lajatico, near Pisa, the previous day after taking his children to school.

According to reports in the Italian media, investigators found searches on his laptop of how to disappear without a trace.

It has been reported Mr Mannino tried to close joint bank accounts belonging to him and his wife, moving the money to accounts under her name only.

Italian media have reported Mr Mannino has now been charged with "violating his family assistance obligations" as a result.

Before leaving the family home, he left a briefcase with €10,500 and a sheet of paper with a numerical sequence, a code which was deciphered by his eldest son, 18.

Aerospace student Filippo told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera earlier this month: "It was a message Dad left me to decipher, I am sure of it, because he knew I am passionate about mathematical games."

Mr Mannino, a former supermarket manager, is said to have checked the weather forecast for Edinburgh and Aberdeen before leaving Italy.

He was described as "tranquil" and "happy" before going missing and left his mobile phone behind, with the recent call history deleted.

Mr Mannino, who claims to be unable to speak Italian, has been communicating in basic English.

When police in Edinburgh were called to reports of a man taking unwell last month, he was not carrying any ID.

Two weeks later officers issued an appeal to help identify a "man with no memory".

During the public appeal for information, they used the Italian's tattoos to help identify him.

At the time, Constable Lesley Jack said: "This is a very unusual inquiry, as we have a member of the public who has no idea about who he is, where he is from or who we can call on his behalf.

"As is standard practice, we have reviewed all relevant missing people and the man does not match the description of anyone currently reported missing.

"We hope that, by issuing this detailed description, someone will recognise this male and come forward to assist with our inquiries."

Mr Mannino's wife and eldest child later flew to Edinburgh, but he claimed not to know who they were.

He is being assessed at a psychiatric ward in Pisa, where doctors are yet to diagnose his condition.