Police officers have been carrying out searches in bushes and undergrowth close to where a County Durham man was last seen more than a month ago.
Barry Hopkins went missing from his home in Shotton Colliery on March 22 and was last seen passing the Caterpillar site, in Shotton Road, Peterlee the same morning at around 10am. The 65-year-old’s phone was found near the area but so far, he has not been traced.
Officers are now conducting searches around the A19 area in Peterlee in a bid to locate him. On Friday afternoon, police officers were seen searching by the side of the A19, close to the industrial estate, including in roadside bushes.
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The officers were using sticks to search and investigate the area where Barry had last been seen. A large number of officers used the sticks to survey the area more thoroughly.
The group of officers carried out searches in the area both as a group and individually. As yet, Durham Constabulary have not issued a further update on the outcomes of their search.
Durham Constabulary previously issued a description of Barry and officers are appealing for anyone who has seen Barry to get in touch. Barry is described as white, of medium build and was last seen wearing a blue bomber style jacket, black trousers, a blue baseball cap and a face mask.
Police are asking nearby residents to check their gardens, sheds, outbuildings and garages in case he is sleeping rough. However, they are not ruling out that he may have got a lift out of the area.
If you can provide any information to help trace Barry, call 101 quoting incident reference number 434 of March 23.
