BURY North MP James Frith has praised Ramsbottom's community spirit after he joined 200 members of the public to search for missing 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.

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

On Thursday, members of the community rallied round to launch search parties across the town to try and find him.

More than 100 people turned up to the Royal British Legion Club in Central Street at 9.30am to search areas across the town, ranging from Holcombe Brook to Edenfield.

Another search took place at 5pm, where volunteers were assigned specific areas to spread the word by handing out missing posters and asking residents to check their gardens.

One of those to join in was Mr Frith, who, along with members of his team, knocked on doors along Whittingham Drive.

He said: “The turnout has been unbelievable.

“You’ve just got to pull together at this time. It’s good to see a community come out in such strength and numbers, and not just consign themselves to social media, but actually get out and look for the lad.

“Everyone on the door step has said they’ll check their back gardens.

“The police have been absolutely extraordinary, too. It’s a monumental effort.

“What we’ve been asked to say is that if they’ve got tarpaulin, a bin, skip, shed, hedgerow, that they check their CCTV, between 8 and 10am on New Year’s Day.”

The searches have been organised through the ‘FIND Steven Dyson’ Facebook group, which was set up on Wednesday.

Police are helping to direct the searches but are asking people to stay clear of open water, where they have been carrying out their own investigations.

Dave Ogden, aged 53, and Sahar Lodge, aged 24, were part of a party which had been instructed to knock on doors in Cleveland Close, off Whittingham Drive.

Mr Ogden, who lives in Ramsbottom, said that it was the sixth time he had been out that day.

He added: “I woke up this morning and checked Facebook, and saw that everyone was getting together, so I decided to come down.

“Quite a lot of older people don’t use social media so might not know about it, that’s why we’re trying to spread the word.

“I turned up this morning and half of that club was full, but now you can see everyone queuing to the door.

“It’s crazy, this sort of thing is not common at all in somewhere like Rammy. I just hope we can find him for the family’s sake.”

Meanwhile, Ms Lodge, who lives in Summerseat, attended the same school as Steven, but was a year above him.

She said: “I don’t know him personally, but I’ve seen him around. It’s worrying because he’s only a year younger than me.

“I was working during the day, so I’m doing what I can tonight to help find him.

“It’s a huge response. I’m really proud of the people of Ramsbottom for coming together.”

Members of the public continued to arrive throughout Thursday evening to offer their services, and organisers say the turnout was so big that they had to turn some people away.

Organiser Becky Honey said: "We ran out of estates to give people out. The community's support is just incredible."

Another search is due to set off from the club at 9.30am on Friday.

Missing posters have been handed out across the town in recent days, and are being prominently displayed in the windows a number of town centre-based businesses.

Social media appeals have been shared thousands of times.

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

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.

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.

It is believed that he got into an altercation at the party, which Mrs Roach believes was about her son’s sexuality.

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.”

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

At around 3.30pm that 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.

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

A dedicated team of officers have been conducting 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.