News

Urgent search for missing 80-year-old ‘keen walker’ from Bury

He went missing on Saturday.

Daisy Jackson - 24th March 2025

A keen walker and birdwatcher from Bury has gone missing while out walking in a local beauty spot, with an urgent search now taking place.

Brian Fletcher, 80, travelled from his home to the Tockholes area of Lancashire on Saturday afternoon.

Brian regularly walks in the area, police have said, including the Higher Roddlesworth and Lower Roddlesworth Reservoirs.

He hasn’t been seen since the weekend and officers are now urgently appealing for anyone who was in the area to come forward with dashcam footage.

If you were on the A675 Belmont Road – from Abbey Village to Tockholes – between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Saturday, and have footage or information, you should contact the police immediately.

Brian was driving a grey Citroen C4 Cactus car, registration WP64HSC, which was found parked in a layby on the A675, near to Tockholes Road.

He’s described as 5ft 8, slim, with grey hair and a small scar on his face from a recent procedure.

When Brian was last seen he was wearing a dark blue jumper, blue cargo trousers, a tan baseball cap and walking boots.

Bolton Mountain Rescue confirmed that search helicopters and dogs are being used in the search.

Lancashire Police said: “We are concerned for Brian’s welfare and if you think you have seen him over the weekend in the Tockholes and surrounding areas, please get in touch.

“Any sightings, please call 999 immediately. If you have dashcam footage of his car or any information which could assist us in finding Brian, contact 101 – quoting log 1544 of 22nd March 2025.

“Our officers are being assisted by Mountain Rescue teams in the search.”

Featured image: Lancashire Police