MORE than 100 members of the public have joined in the search for missing Ramsbottom man Steven Dyson.

Mr Dyson, aged 22, has not been seen since 9am on January 1 when he left a New Year’s Eve party in St Andrew’s Close in Ramsbottom.

Police believe he was assaulted at the party and are concerned he could be seriously injured. A 21-year-old man has been arrested and has been released under investigation.

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Steven Dyson search: Ramsbottom mum's emotional plea for son to come home

Police carry out extensive searches of a park for Steven Dyson

It is believed Mr Dyson started the 25-minute walk to his home in Beechwood Avenue after being assaulted.

Members of the community have now rallied round to launch search parties across the town today to try and find him.

The search was organised through the ‘FIND Steven Dyson’ Facebook group, which was set up yesterday.

More than 100 people turned up to the Royal British Legion Club in Central Street at 9.30am on Thursday.

They were split into groups of between five and eight and were being directed to search areas across the town, ranging from Holcombe Brook across to Edenfield, by police.

Another search is due to set off from the club at 5pm.

Meanwhile, missing posters are being handed out to people across the town, and are also being displayed in windows by businesses in the town.

Social media appeals have been shared thousands of times.

Supermarkets in the town have also shown their support by providing refreshments for the search party at the Royal British Legion Club.

Sophie Neary, one of the search party’s organisers, said: “Steven is part of the community and we wanted to do something.

“The amount of people that turned up was overwhelming. That’s what the people of Ramsbottom are all about, they come together in a crisis and do as much as they can for people.”

“It was the same in 2015 when people rallied round for the floods.

“Police are doing their own searches and are asking us to avoid rivers and waterways because they don’t want anyone else to come to harm.

“Steven’s family are really thankful and amazed at how many people have come together to help.”

Police have been carrying out extensive searches of Nuttall Park themselves and an underwater unit has also investigated the River Irwell.

Mr Dyson lives with his mother, Lorraine Roach, who yesterday appealed to her son, or anyone who was at the party or could have seen him walking home to get in touch.

Mrs Roach last saw her son at 10.30pm on New Year’s Eve when he left his home to get a taxi to Ramsbottom with a friend.

She said: “He shouted out ‘happy New Year, we’re off’. I just thought he would text me. I didn’t hear from him again.”

Mr Dyson first went to the Grey Mare pub, in Bolton Road, and Longsight Service Station at around 3am before the last sighting of him six hours later.

Mrs Roach believes someone at the party knows more than they are letting on and urged them to talk to police.

She said: “Some are saying one thing and some are saying another. Some of them are saying it was only an argument.

“They need to grow up and start telling police exactly what happened.

“There was trouble at the party and someone knows what has gone on.”

“If they had told the truth right at the start then the searches could have started sooner, the police can only go on what they have been told.”

Mrs Roach believes the altercation was about her son’s sexuality.

On New Year’s Day Mrs Roach, who works at Homespares in Bolton, didn’t check on her son as he usually sleeps in late after a night out.

At around 3.30pm on New Year’s Day she went in his room and realised he wasn’t home so posted on Facebook.

A friend who Mr Dyson had been out with got in touch and said that he had left the party at around 8.30am.

She said the disappearance is very out of character and he has lived in the house in Ramsbottom since he was two years old and knows the area.

The 53-year-old said: “He knows the area really well. We have walked the dog down there many times and he has friends who live up there and he knows it well. He is not going to get lost.

“If he is in trouble he comes home. He doesn’t go out that much.

“Without a drink he is very quiet. When he has a drink he is the life and soul of the party. He will talk to anyone.

“He is not aggressive at all. He would never ever go out somewhere and start a fight. He would never go looking for trouble.”

Mr Dyson works in Click and Collect at House of Fraser in Manchester and is passionate about fashion.

Police have a dedicated team of officers on the investigation into the disappearance and specially trained officers have been supporting the family.

Officers said Mr Dyson’s phone is not active and money has not been drawn out of his bank account since the disappearance.

It is believed he was wearing a leather jacket with a grey top, black skinny jeans and grey boots.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 8157 or 101, quoting reference MP/18/0112464. Reports can also be made anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.