THE search for a man missing from his North-East home for more than three years took a new twist yesterday when police teams began searching areas near his former home.

Specialist search teams, including dog units and experts brought in from other force areas, have begun searching a number of sites surrounding the village of Sacriston, near Chester-le-Street, in an effort to solve the mysterious disappearance of former miner Edward Donnelly.

In March 2002, Mr Donnelly, then aged 53, vanished from the home he shared with his sister, in Fynway, and has never been seen since.

The mystery deepened earlier this year when detectives leading the inquiry into Mr Donnelly's disappearance arrested 49-year-old John Robert Pounder on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and searched his home in Elm Court in the village.

Less than a month later, Mr Pounder was found dead at his home. Although an inquest is yet to determine the cause of death, there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances. Yesterday, the officer leading the inquiry admitted that it looked increasingly unlikely that Mr Donnelly would be found alive.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Watson said: "After this length of time, hopes of finding him alive are waning, however, we are doing our utmost to discover what has become of him and bring the investigation to a conclusion."

On the first day of a planned three-day operation, police yesterday began combing a number of sites which had not previously been searched - sites which were identified by senior officers following extensive inquiries in Sacriston earlier this year.

The sites being searched include a number of abandoned mine workings, among them a location three miles away from Sacriston, near the village of Plawsworth, close to where Mr Donnelly was last seen alive.

Det Chief Insp Watson added: "We are determined to solve the mystery of Mr Donnelly's disappearance and would appeal to anyone with information which might help our inquiry to come forward."

Mr Donnelly is 5ft 8in, with a pale complexion and light mousey brown hair, last seen cut in a short-back-and-sides style.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police on 0845 6060365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.