THE search for a missing father-of-one has been stepped up five weeks after he disappeared from his County Durham home.
Mountain rescuers were called in at the weekend to help police look for Darren Lawler who has been missing from Ferryhill since early June.
The 31-year-old was last seen on Thursday, June 11 when he left his home in Blandford Street and said he was going to see his dad in Wheatley Hill.
Missing Ferryhill man Darren Lawler, pictured with his partner Ashley Clarke and their baby, Harley-James
On Saturday (July 18) Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team and Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team spent much of the day searching Ferryhill Carrs Nature Reserve, on the edge of the town.
Steve Owers, Teesdale and Weardale deputy team leader, said: "With assistance from the Cleveland team we had 25 mountain rescue volunteers covering the area.
“It was one of the more challenging areas we have searched for some time.
“The open water was covered by our canoe group, but the reed beds had to be searched on foot.
"With vegetation above head height, the ground so soft that at times we were sinking knee deep and with it being a warm day it was extremely difficult for our searchers.
“Sadly, we have found no sign of Darren."
Mr Lawler’s partner Ashley Clarke has issued a heartfelt plea for him to return to her and their four-month-old son Harley.
A month after his disappearance, about 30 friends and relatives held a demonstration in Ferryhill urging Durham police, who say specialists have been actively searching and trawling CCTV in a bid to find him, to keep going.
Friend Leanne Turton welcomed the weekend’s action and urged volunteers to join them on a search on Wednesday, July 22, starting in Market Place at 6pm.
She said: “I don’t know if more should have been done earlier, but it is positive they were out there and we’re grateful to the volunteers.
“Streets and empty houses have been checked and we’ve got maps of where police have searched, but there is such a big area to cover, the more people we have the better.”
Mr Lawler is white, of medium build with short, dark brown hair and has 'Simon' tattooed on his right arm in tribute to his late brother.
Anyone with information is asked to call Durham police on 101.
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