POLICE are concerned for the welfare of a man who has been missing since leaving hospital on Saturday.

Mark Bowden, 35, has not been seen since leaving the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, where he had been treated on Saturday evening.

Originally from Manchester, Mr Bowden has been living at local hostels and was wearing a plaster-cast on his right arm at the time he went missing.

He is 6ft 5in, slim, with collar-length brown hair and blue eyes. He had been wearing a brown, leather jacket with dark sleeves, and blue demin jeans.

Anyone who knows of his whereabouts is asked to call Newcastle police on 0191-214 6555 ext 62226.