THE family of a man who disappeared without a trace 16 years ago has applied to a court to have him declared dead.

Edward Donnelly, from Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, mysteriously vanished in March 2002.

The ex-miner, who lived with his sister, was last seen walking in the Plawsworth area.

Despite numerous searches, no trace of Mr Donnelly, who was 53 when he was last seen, was ever found.

Solicitor Callum Thomson, of Riley Langdon Solicitors, based in Meadowfield, near Durham, confirmed that Mr Donnelly’s brother had applied to the High Court for the declaration of the presumed death.

He said: “Edward Donnelly is believed to be dead. When a person has died in these sorts of circumstances there is a court process.

“An application has been made as part of that process.”

Following Mr Donnelly’s disappearance, Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue spent days scouring areas around Sacriston, using canoeists to search the river and police helicopters to search railway lines.

Further efforts were made the following year when divers from Northumbria Police searched an overgrown pond, not far from the village, in a bid to find his body.

And in 2005, Durham Police carried out searches of abandoned mine shafts near Sacriston and a nearby Second World War air raid shelter in Blackett’s Bank, Old Acorn Lane took place in 2005 but with no success.

The missing person inquiry became a murder hunt in 2005 but while five people were arrested in connection to the disappearance, no-one was ever charged with a crime.

A Durham Police spokesperson said the case was still under investigation.

A spokeswoman said: “We review it regularly and will look at anything we can do.

“If any new information comes to light we would look at it and take appropriate action.”

Mr Donnelly, who was known to family and friends as Eddie, enjoyed reading and walking in the Durham and Chester-le-Street area.

The former Sacriston Pit worker was around 5ft 8in, pale and with mousy brown hair.

His last known address was 15 Fynway, Sacriston and he was last seen walking along the A167 near the Red Lion pub, at Plawsworth on March 25, 2002.

Following the disappearance, his sister Frances said she had returned home to find his keys, which he had posted through the letter box, and his cheque book, cash cards and other documents.

Missing people are not automatically presumed dead but relatives of someone who has been missing for more than seven years can apply to the High Court for a “declaration of presumed death”.

Anyone with a financial interest in the case can apply to the court to intervene as soon as possible by writing to the High Court of Justice.