DETECTIVES hunting missing Chinese takeaway owner Barry Wong believe he may be in London.

Mr Wong failed to return to his home in Girvan Close, Stanley, County Durham, after a night gambling at a Newcastle casino last month.

Investigators said last night that they are concentrating their search in London, but officers are convinced someone in the region has seen him and knows where he is.

Mr Wong, 36, was last seen dropping off his brother-in-law in the village of Craghead, near Stanley, in the early hours of February 24.

The pair had been to Stanley Casinos, where Mr Wong was a regular, often winning or losing thousands of pounds.

Police said he did not appear to have incurred any large gambling debts, but did not rule it out as a possibility.

Posters have been issued both in the region and in Glasgow, Swansea and Liverpool, where Mr Wong has family.

Anyone with information is asked to call (01207) 232144, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.