POLICE are continuing to search for a council official who disappeared at the weekend.

Terry Robson, 55, town clerk and solicitor for Spennymoor Town Council, has not been seen since 7.30am on Saturday when he left his home in North Close, Kirk Merrington, to go to allotments. It appears Mr Robson, who is diabetic, drove to Alnmouth, in Northumberland, but police searches of the area have so far drawn a blank.

Two officers from Newton Aycliffe have joined Northumbria Police to search places the father-of-two liked to visit.

A devout Christian and a member of a Franciscan order, he regularly visits Alnmouth Friary and Lindisfarne Priory. The monks are praying five times a day for his safe return.

Detective Chief Inspector Colin Pearson, of Newton Aycliffe police, who is leading the investigation into the disappearance, said: "As each day goes by without any word from Mr Robson, both his family and ourselves grow increasingly concerned.

"It is completely out of character for him to vanish like this."

Mr Robson was is described as 5ft 6in, of average build, with blue eyes and dark hair.

He was believed to have been wearing an orange checked shirt and brown trousers and sandals.

Mr Robson also wears a medical alert bracelet on his wrist indicating he is diabetic.