French police hunt missing Britons

Roy and Alice Houghton were on a six-week trip

French police are using helicopters and boats to hunt for three elderly Britons who disappeared on holiday in the south of France.

A team of officers are scouring the countryside for Roy and Alice Houghton, from Bedfordshire, and Alice's brother Walter Sheppard, from Nottingham.

They have also alerted police in Spain, amid increasing concerns for the safety of the three pensioners.

We are sure that it isn't an accident

French police spokesman

The three, aged between 77 and 80, set off on a six-week trip to the coastal town of Collioure on 30 April, but never arrived at their destination.

Their family last heard from them on Saturday 4 May and said they were extremely worried about their safety, as it was "very out of character" for them to lose touch.

French police have established the pensioners stayed in a hotel in Perpignan - just a few miles from Collioure - until Monday, two days after they were supposed to arrive.

No trace

Police said they hoped the simple explanation was that there had been a change of plan, and the pensioners were elsewhere in France.

The trio spent an unexplained two nights at Perpignan

There have been no reports of any accident involving the trio, and nor have police traced Mr Houghton's green Rover car with the registration number N240 GVW.

Officers said all searches so far had proved fruitless, and they hoped a national television and press appeal would turn up a lead.

Spokesman Jan Burnichon said: "We have the helicopter to see if there is a car crash in the sea, or in the river, or in the mountain - and no, we are sure that it isn't an accident, and we have to wait."

The credit cards of the three have now been "marked", which means banks in the UK will be alerted immediately when they are used, and where.

Phone call

The family said they were worried, but did not suspect foul play had been involved in their disappearance.

The Houghtons' grandson Scott Goodfellow said: "Knowing my nan, she's seen the villa and not liked it and they're probably sitting in a vineyard in northern Spain drinking wine, not knowing what's happening at home."

He said it was unlikely that the three had got lost as they knew the region well and had travelled there extensively.

Villas in Collioure - the three never arrived at theirs

"They are very experienced drivers. My granddad's been doing the road for 20 years. He wouldn't even need a map to get down there."

The three took the ferry across to France on 30 April and then drove down to the coast in the Houghtons' car.

From Perpignan, Mr Houghton called his son to say they would be heading to Collioure shortly.

However, they did not reach their final destination and the alarm was raised by the apartment owner. The trio had paid a deposit for a two-week stay.