POLICE appealed for anyone with information about a missing Darlington man to get in touch last night amid fears he may have jumped from a bridge into the River Tees.

A major missing person search was due to resume at first light today after a man was seen jumping off the Blackwell Bridge in Darlington on Tuesday night.

Police said that the person they were looking for was 67- year-old Peter Moffat – described as a meticulous man with a set routine – who is missing from his home in the Blackwell area of Darlington.

Darlington duty inspector Kevin McCarthy said: “We are carrying out a number of lines of inquiry following the report from a member of the public about a man jumping into the river.

“We are keen to trace Mr Moffat and would urge him or anyone with information regarding his whereabouts to contact us so that we know he is safe and well.”

Police declined to comment on claims that Mr Moffat had left a note before he disappeared.

However friend and neighbour John Hovington said he believed that something was wrong later on Wednesday morning when Mr Moffat’s curtains remained drawn.

“I have a key to his house so I went over and found a note,” he said.

“Every day Peter would buy a copy of the newspaper and do the sudoko before pushing it through my door.

“Sure enough, Tuesday’s puzzle was complete and his house was immaculate – as it always is.

“He even had his week’s shirts washed, ironed and hung up.”

Mr Hovington said his friend had been ill for some time and was in pain.

He added: “Peter has been unable to do the things he enjoys for sometime because of his pain.

“I called the emergency services who conducted a full search of his house but they didn’t find him.”

Mr Hovington said the missing man had been “very low” lately.

An extensive search of the river and its banks down to Stapleton has been carried out by specially trained officers, fire service and members of Teesdale and Weardale Mountain Rescue Service.

The emergency services continued the operation on Wednesday when they were joined by the Northumbria underwater search team who continued the search downstream to Croft.

Last night the police temporarily called off the search which will resume today.

• Anyone with information can contact Darlington police on 0345-60-60-365.