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Major search for missing 80-year-old walker

Ewan Gawne
BBC News, Manchester
LancashireConstabulary Brian Fletcher stares forward in a dated photo released by police. He is wearing a grey shirt and has grey hair with a scar below his eye.LancashireConstabulary
Brian Fletcher from Bury went missing in Lancashire on Saturday afternoon

Drones, search dogs and a helicopter are all being used in a major search for an 80-year-old man who went missing two days ago at one of his regular walking spots.

Brian Fletcher drove from his home in Bury on Saturday afternoon and parked in a layby by the village of Tockholes, Lancashire Police said.

Mountain rescue teams have joined the force searching the area by the Roddlesworth Reservoirs and parts of the West Pennine Moors.

Officers are concerned for the welfare of the "keen walker" and birdwatcher, who regularly treks in the area, the force said.

Four men dressed all in black walk through long, dry grass in between a wire fence and stone wall through a sloped field. Moorland and forest can be seen in the distance on a bright, sunny day.
Police have been searching for Mr Fletcher with mountain rescue teams

Mr Fletcher is 5ft 8ins tall (176cm), with grey hair and a small scar on his cheek.

He was believed to be wearing a brown cap, blue top and blue trousers, a police spokesman said.

His car, a grey-coloured Citroen C4 was found parked in the layby on the A675, near to Tockholes Road.

Two men in red jackets pour over a map beneath a white trailer bearing the words 'Bolton Mountain Rescue Team'. They are stood in a car park.
Rescue teams are coordinating the search from a nearby car park

Lancashire Police are leading the operation alongside Bolton, Rossendale & Pendle, and Bowland mountain rescue teams.

Search dogs, a drone from the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and a coastguard helicopter have also been used in the search.

BoltonMountainRescue A police vehicle parked next to mountain rescue vehicles in a car park. A huddle of people in orange jackets can be seen gathered behind one of the vans. BoltonMountainRescue
Three mountain rescue teams are helping police in the search

Bolton Mountain Rescue Service said police had asked for help at about 23:42 GMT on Saturday.

About 16 rescuers searched overnight in "foggy, wet conditions, covering Darwen Moor, Roddlesworth Plantations, and Great Hill", he added.

The search is now centred on parts of Darwen Moor, Withnell Moor and the Roddlesworth Plantations.

Bolton Mountain Rescue A mountain rescue vehicle parked by some traffic cones in the dark at a car park. Rain can be seen lashing against the side of the vehicle. Bolton Mountain Rescue
The two-day search has continued overnight since Saturday through the wind and rain

Officers have been seen combing fields on moors in the area as part of the search operation, which is based out of Crookfield car park.

People who live in the Tockholes area have been asked to look out for the 80-year-old and contact the police "immediately" if they spot him.

Lancashire Police said it was appealing for anyone with dashcam footage from the A675 Belmont Road, from Abbey Village to Tockholes, between 13:30 and 14:30 on Saturday.

Anyone with information about Mr Fletcher's whereabouts is asked to contact the force.

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