POLICE are scouring part of North Yorkshire in an effort to track down a man who disappeared from hospital earlier this week.

Gary Sheffield, 52, went missing from Scarborough Hospital sometime between 5am and 6am on Monday, December 21, and has not been seen since.

Officers are growing increasingly worried for his safety and have been joined in their search by volunteers from the Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team.

The missing man has no access to a phone or his own transport and officers are appealing to public transport operators, including train, bus and taxi operators to contact them in case Mr Sheffield has used public transport to leave the area. They are also appealing to any motorists who may have given him a lift.

He is described as 6ft tall, grey haired and of thin build and was last seen wearing a grey jumper with a denim blue collar, grey trousers, a navy-blue zip-up fleece and smart, black, lace-up shoes.

Anyone who may have seen him or knows of his current whereabouts is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option one and pass information to the force control room