POLICE have been searching an area of County Durham where a man disappeared four years ago.

Scott Fletcher was last seen in a lay-by near the former Jet garage on the A181 at Wheatley Hill in County Durham and as part of a case review detectives visited the site today (Wednesday, May 13).

Since the disappearance of the Hartlepool father-of-one, his family have made numerous appeals in a desperate attempt to trace him.

Detective Superintendent Jon Green, of Cleveland Police, is leading the investigation into his disappearance.

He said: “As well as searches, I intend to speak again to key witnesses and to revisit what they have previously told us. This could well lead to new lines of inquiry in what is very much an active investigation.

“I firmly believe that there are people out there who know more than they are telling us and who are deliberately withholding information.

“With the passage of time it becomes increasingly likely that Scott has come to serious harm and we are therefore considering whether others could be involved in his disappearance and who they may be.

“I would make a direct appeal to these people. Think of Scott’s family who have the ongoing agony of not knowing what happened to him. They deserve answers and I intend to do all I can to get these answers.”

Over the years, officers have visited a number of areas, including Liverpool, Cumbria and Durham where Mr Fletcher had links in an attempt to trace him.

He was 27 when he went missing and has a daughter, Lucie, and stepson Bradley.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on the non-emergency number 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.