POLICE have launched a new appeal for a 74-year-old man who is missing from home.

The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) helicopter and Bolton Mountain Rescue team helicopter were scrambled to circle above Horwich yesterday and are searching again today. Workers in the town said they had heard the police helicopter sounding a message that a 74-year-old man was missing.

He has been missing from home since midnight on Sunday and is thought to have abandoned his car in Horwich before wandering off. Officers on foot and a number of police cars and vans were seen patrolling the area at around 5pm. The search had extended to Rivington, Chorley Old Road and woodland near Georges Lane by 10pm.

A GMP spokesman said: "At around 9.50am today (July 2), police in Bolton were called to the junction of Foxholes Road and Georges Lane, Horwich, following the discovery of an abandoned silver Ford Focus belonging to a man in his 70s who has been missing from home since midnight.

"GMP officers and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team are taking part in an extensive search of the surrounding area and enquiries are continuing."