Fresh search under way for missing man

Fresh searches for a missing 81-year-old man were taking place today in a Shropshire town – three weeks after he vanished. Michael Ashton, of Church Street, Ellesmere, was reported missing on July 7.

Sergeant Scott Barnes told Ellesmere Local Joint Committee further searches were due to take place yesterday, today and tomorrow.

He said: "We are still trying to find him as we're asking people to check their outbuildings and gardens.

"We're doing more searches over the weekend."

Investigators have said Mr Ashton could be in a confused state and has gone missing before.

Constable Paul Crump, local policing officer for Ellesmere, said Mr Ashton's family was extremely worried for his welfare.

Mr Ashton is white, about 6ft tall, with a slim build, grey hair and beard. He wears glasses and is likely to have been wearing a blue jumper and light-coloured trousers when he went missing.

A 28-strong search team joined by sniffer dogs and a helicopter has already scoured the area for Mr Ashton in the days after his July 6 disappearance, but without success.

Maria Wilkinson, West Mercia Police spokeswoman, said: "Further searches are taking place.

"They began yesterday and the search team will be covering a slightly wider area."

Police said they are becoming increasingly concerned for Mr Ashton and have urged anyone who might have seen him to call 101 or 03003333000.