POLICE continue to be concerned over the mysterious disappearance of a pensioner who has not been seen since he went to buy a newspaper on Monday.

Robert English, 77, left his home at Station Cottages, Middleton in Teesdale, at about 2.30pm, but police were called by his family when he failed to return by 11pm that night.

Mr English would normally take his newspaper to read at a local reservoir, but as the day went on, his wife, Joyce, thought he may have gone to visit their sons in Consett.

However, following a search of the surrounding area by police, including a spotter plane and help from Tees and Wear Search and Rescue volunteers, throughout Tuesday, concern has grown.

A Durham Constabulary spokesman said: "Where he's gone is basically a mystery. If he is out on the moors, then we are more than seriously concerned."

Mr English is 5ft 8in tall, weighs 16 stones, wears glasses and has a fair complexion.

He was last seen wearing a green hooded parka-type coat with drawstrings, a black woolly hat, black trousers and cream-coloured trainers.