THE police helicopter was scrambled yesterday to help in the search of a naked man who was seen walking along a public footpath - but the strolling streaker eluded all efforts to find him.

The hunt was mounted around Stanley, County Durham after a passer-by saw a man walking casually along the Sustrans footpath between Annfield Plain and Stanley, at 3.50pm.

Duty Sergeant Steve Armstrong said: "The man described as being in his 30s ran away when he was spotted."