MORE than 50 volunteers turned out to help in the search for a missing farmer yesterday.

Concerns are growing for the welfare of Paul Parvin, who left his home in Sessay near Thirsk on Monday and has not been seen since.

Yesterday, North Yorkshire Police conducted a major search with the assistance of an army of volunteers, with five mountain rescue teams from around the region turning out to help.

According to the Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team, the attempts to find Mr Parvin saw around 13km of the River Swale searched along with “many acres” of woodland around the missing man’s farm.

Among those who assisted in the search were mountain rescue teams from Scarborough and Rydale, Cleveland, RAF Leeming and Swaledale.

Yesterday, a spokeswoman for North Yorkshire Police said the force was becoming “increasingly concerned” for the welfare of Mr Parvin.

The 52-year-old left his home at around 9pm on Monday and is believed to have been wearing a black baseball cap, red and black checked lumberjack shirt, black jeans and short black boots.

He may also be wearing a three quarter length olive green coat with a fleece lining and hood.

Mr Parvin is white, 5ft 11 with short, black, wavy hair that is greying and a short beard.

On Wednesday afternoon, the police spokeswoman urged anyone who has information about Mr Parvin’s whereabouts to contact them.

She said: “A police spokeswoman said: "Police have carried out extensive inquires to find Paul, including searches with volunteer search and rescue teams and using air support from the National Police Air Service, but Paul remains missing.

"Officers are asking members of the public to report any sightings of Paul and to contact them if they have seen him since Monday evening."

Anyone with information is asked to phone North Yorkshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 12180074742.