POLICE are combing a North-East beauty spot in the hunt for a 37-year-old man who has been missing for more than 24 hours.

Search teams are in the Horden Dene area of County Durham, as concern grows for welfare of self-employed plasterer Adrian Welsh, who is known to be in a depressed state.

He was last seen at the house he shares with his partner in South Terrace, Horden, in the early hours of yesterday morning when she went to bed.

Peterlee-based Inspector Nicky Ransome said: "She awoke to find he had left and thought he had gone to work.

"But he failed to turn up at a job he was contracted to do and his car was later found parked on the A1086 just outside the Dene."

He said police had been told that Mr Welsh has money problems and is upset after being told that his ex-wife is talking about emigrating and taking their two children with her.

At the present time officers backed by a members of the fell rescue team are searching the Dene.

Mr Welsh is said of stocky build with hazel eyes and short, light brown, greying hair and long sideburns.

He was wearing beige coloured combat style trousers and brown lace-up trainer-style shoes.

Anyone who may have seen him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to ring 0345-60-60-365.