POLICE and other agencies are continuing their search for a missing 75-year-old man who was last seen at the end of last week.
North Yorkshire Police launched an urgent appeal on Friday (March 4) after the family of Hambleton man, Colin Leggat, who was last seen in Thornton-le-Street, near Thirsk, a couple of days ago.
Mr Leggat was last seen wearing a white checked shirt, green country-style trousers, and a thin brown jumper.
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He has been reported missing and North Yorkshire Police is currently conducting extensive searches in the area, including via police helicopter. Officers are concerned about his welfare.
Alongside several police units looking for the 75-year-old, Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team was called out on Friday (March 4) and Saturday (March 5) to assist with the search.
The mountain rescue team deployed three double-crewed vehicles – consisting of two Land Rovers plus their Incident Control Vehicle to an RV-point within the village.
They spent most of Saturday searching various locations in the area, together with Police officers and the Police regional underwater search unit.
Support was also provided by search dogs and their handlers from the Cave Rescue Organisation, Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team and Teesdale and Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team.
Overall, Twenty-four Cleveland members were deployed on Friday night for six-hours and twenty-three on Saturday for a further eight-hours.
Extensive resources have been allocated in the search to find Colin over the last few days. Officers have used a police drone to allow them to view aerial footage of vast open areas.
Specialist support units which include the National Police Air Service helicopter (NPAS), search dogs, volunteer mountain rescue teams and a police underwater search unit have all been deployed.
The focus of the search is fields and open areas in vicinity of the village of Thornton Le Street.
Acting Critical Incident Inspector Tom Collins from North Yorkshire Police said: “We are extremely concerned for Colin’s welfare. I urge anyone who is in the Thornton Le Street area to be vigilant and to report any immediate sightings of anyone matching Colins description to 999.
“If you have any information that could assist us with our search for Colin then please call us on 101 and quote reference number 12220037935.”
The search for Colin Leggat continues:
Pictures: CLEVELAND MOUNTAIN RESCUE.
A spokesperson for the rescue team said: “The Team would like to express their thanks to the villagers and local landowners for their support and advice during the day – especially to the very kind lady who dropped off a very welcome supply of snacks and biscuits.”
If you have any information about Colin Leggat’s whereabouts, contact North Yorkshire Police on 101 and select option 1, quoting reference 12220037935.
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