POLICE are tonight searching for a missing man who had been acting in a distressed manner on cliff tops.

A member of the public spotted the man near Souter Point Lighthouse, near Sunderland, at 1.50pm.

Coastguard teams, a lifeboat crew and a search and rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer were called in, but could not find the man.

The coastal search was later scaled down, but police are still looking for the man, who is believed to be from South Tyneside.

He is described as tanned with very short brown hair and may be wearing blue and white surfer-style shorts with a floral design.

Ian Rowan, Helmsman at Sunderland RNLI, said: “Initially we were asked to carry out a coastal search along the base of the cliffs. To achieve this it necessary to carefully manoeuvre the D Class lifeboat in and around a number of large rocks which are along this area of coast.

"After carrying out a detailed search of the search area, it was decided to scale down both the water and land based coastal search leaving the police to continue with the search further inland.”

Superintendent John Chappell, of Northumbria Police, said: "We would urge anyone who has seen this man or who is aware of who he is to get in touch with us. We would like to know he is safe and well."

Anyone with information can call police on 03456-043043.