HOLIDAYMAKERS have joined the hunt for a Bolton pensioner who has disappeared without trace on a Spanish holiday island.

Local families visiting Menorca are distributing posters in a bid to help trace 77-year-old Richard Riley, who went missing two weeks ago.

The Bolton Evening News printed the posters for the holidaymakers -- who also intend to look for Mr Riley -- to circulate around the island.

Mr Riley, of Bury Road, Tonge Fold, was last seen two weeks ago in the resort of Cala Galdana where he was on holiday with his wife and their two daughters.

Four days into the holiday, Mr Riley, who suffers from dementia, said he was going for a walk. He has not been seen since.

Families who read about Mr Riley's disappearance have now joined the Bolton Evening News in a bid to help Spanish police officers who have launched an investigation into his disappearance.

Marie Lythgoe, aged 36, from Horwich, read an appeal in the newspaper by Mr Riley's wife, Agnes, asking for tourists to keep an eye open for her husband.

Mrs Lythgoe and her children Daniel, aged 11, and nine-year-old Vanessa, flew out to Spain yesterday armed with Evening News posters which bear a photograph of Mr Riley.

The Horwich family, who are staying in the neighbouring resort of Cala Bosch, are distributing the posters around the island.

Mrs Lythgoe, who works at Greenhalgh's bakery in Chorley New Road, said before she jetted out: "We will definitely look for him. When I read the story my heart went out to the family.

"My dad passed away a few years ago so I know what it's like. We want to do our bit to help and intend to put up posters around the island. It is important to help, especially as the family are from Bolton."

Debra Griffiths and her family, from Kearsley, also jetted out to the Balearic island yesterday with more of the posters.

Mother-of-two Mrs Griffiths will seek the help of other British holidaymakers in a bid to speak to anyone who may have seen him. As she prepared to fly out, Mrs Griffiths said: "I'm only too willing to help. We've been on holiday there before and know our bearings quite well. We'll also be hiring a car which means we will be able to search in places other people might not have visited."

Today Mr Riley's anxious wife, Agnes, also aged 77, said she was delighted by the offers of help.

She added: "I'm thrilled about the posters and it is very good of these people to help on their holidays, I appreciate it very much.

"I have been thinking about where he might be and I phoned our holiday company, Airtours, and suggested they look in places where there are a lot of dogs. Richard loves our two dogs and, because of his condition, I think he might go looking for them."

Airtours said they would pass the information to the police and the British Consulate.

Mr Riley, who also has a son Kevin and four grandchildren, was a process worker at Lorival Plastics in Little Lever until he retired.

He has had dementia for three years but has never gone missing before. He was wearing pale blue shorts, a striped T-shirt and trainers when he disappeared.