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Concern for missing OAP

Oct 18 2009 by Sophie Doughty, Sunday Sun

THE family of a frail missing grandfather were last night fearing the worst as the hours tick by since he disappeared.

William Jones

William Jones has not been seen since he left his home in Ferryhill, County Durham, on Friday afternoon.

The 89-year-old retired pitman set-off for his daily walk at around 4pm.

But his wife Janet, 85, became concerned when he had not returned three hours later and after scouring the streets and finding no trace of their father, William’s children contacted police.

A huge search operation was launched involving 20 police officers, 18 volunteers from a local search and rescue team, and specially trained police dogs. Police asked regulars at local pubs, and taxi drivers to look out for him, and the search and rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer, near Alnwick, hunted for him from the sky.

Emergency services worked throughout Friday night in a bid to find him and efforts resumed in the morning, when police began house-to-house enquiries in Ferryhill and nearby Bishop Middleham.

As the grandfather-of-four’s whereabouts last night remained a mystery, his son Glynn, 60, pleaded with local people to keep a lookout for his dad.

“We are all starting to fear the worst,” he said. “He has just disappeared.

“We are having all sorts of thoughts but just hoping he is OK.”

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