Missing doctor 'not on train'

Dr Stevens' family have made appeals for him to come home

Police say that a reported sighting of a missing doctor on a train from Manchester to London, was not him.

Officers say they have no confirmed sightings of Richard Stevens, of Sale, Greater Manchester, since he disappeared from the hospital where he worked just over a week ago.

A railway worker claimed to have seen the 54-year-old on a train to London last Tuesday - the day after he went missing.

But Greater Manchester Police said on Thursday that after examining CCTV footage, the reported sighting was not Dr Stevens.

He was last seen arriving for work at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Salford. After leaving his jacket and briefcase in his office, he vanished.

Dr Stevens' wife and three children have appealed for him to come home.

'Extremely worried'

His son Jonathan, 30, said his father's disappearance was totally out of character and said the last week had been his "worst nightmare".

Superintendent Frank Doyle said: "We have had a number of sightings of Richard, all of which have so far come to nothing.

"It is now over a week since he was last seen and his family are extremely worried and desperate to know that he is safe and well.

"If Richard is reading this I would urge him to contact us so we know that he is safe. Even if he is worried about coming home we just want to know that he is OK."

Officers are continuing to investigate other reported sightings of Dr Stevens and are monitoring his mobile phone calls and bank statements.