AS concern grows for a missing father, friends, family and the wider community have stepped up the search to find him.

Darren Lawler, from Ferryhill, County Durham, has been missing for almost a fortnight and his failure to contact friends and loved ones has been described as out of character.

Last week, his distraught fiancé, Ashley Clarke, pleaded with Mr Lawler to return to her and their three-month-old son, Harley-James Philip Lawler.

This afternoon (Tuesday, June 23), friends, relatives and residents of Ferryhill and east Durham, where Mr Lawler grew up, came together to search for the 31-year-old.

Dozens met at Wingate Nature Reserve and in Ferryhill to scour the countryside, footpaths and trails in between.

Mr Lawler left the family home in Blandford Street on Thursday, June 11 saying he was going to stay with his father in the Wheatley Hill area but he never arrived.

Armed with laminated posters of Mr Lawler, the search party said they would not give up until they found the much-loved father.

Leanne Turton, who co-ordinated the search along with fellow family friend Rachel Henderson via Facebook, said: “There is a strong sense of community in the Wheatley Hill area and people from nearby villages who don’t even know Darren have come along to help look for him.

“Every time we search an area we put up a poster so we know that area has been covered.”

Durham Police was not involved in this search but officers have been in regular contact with Mr Lawler’s friends and family.

A spokesperson said: “Enquiries into Darren’s whereabouts continue. To date, we have put a significant amount of resource into searching the areas that intelligence suggested Darren might be, including using the services of the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team, police search dogs, the police helicopter and dedicated police search teams.

“Our enquiries are ongoing and we are continuing to review CCTV and follow up any possible sightings that are reported to us. If enquiries point to an alternative location, we will move our search accordingly.”

Mr Lawler is described as white, of medium build with short dark brown hair and is clean shaven.

He was last seen wearing a khaki green hooded top with dark blue or black jeans and white Nike trainers with a black tick.

His right upper arm is tattooed with the name SIMON.

Anyone with information regarding Mr Lawler’s whereabouts is asked to contact 101 quoting reference DHM 11062015/0329.