Sniffer dogs used in search

Vinny Derrick was last seen leaving the Jabez Clegg pub

Detectives investigating the disappearance of a man after a night out have been using sniffer dogs to search for clues.

Officers closed two lanes of the A34 in Handforth, near Manchester, on Monday and the dogs were brought in on Tuesday.

Greater Manchester Police believe Vincent Derrick got out of a taxi on the road in the early hours of 30 August. He has not been seen since.

Mr Derrick, known as Vinny, disappeared after he left a Manchester bar, heading for his boss's house where he was due to stay the night.

The 28-year-old, who is married with a two-year-old son, told his boss he had a dispute over the taxi fare and asked for directions to her house, but he failed to arrive.

Driver appeal

Officers from the dog unit were searching nearby Gatley Cricket Club with two German shepherds and an English springer spaniel, after Mr Derrick told his boss on the phone he had got out of the taxi close to a sports club.

Police have also released a tape of Mr Derrick chatting to the taxi driver, recorded when he accidentally called the first name in his phone book and was connected to a friend's answer machine.

Sergeant Trevor Pile, who is co-ordinating the search for Mr Derrick, said all reported sightings of him have been in the area of the A34.

They are appealing for the taxi driver to come forward, and anyone who may have seen Mr Derrick after he got out of the cab.

Midlands accent

Mr Derrick, of Orchard Avenue, Partington, had left the Jabez Clegg pub at about 0100 BST after the night out with workmates.

Several people say they saw a man matching Mr Derrick's description close to the Tesco and Marks and Spencer stores in Handforth.

Mr Derrick is described as white, about 5 ft 6 ins tall, of medium build with short dark brown hair and speaks with an east Midlands accent.

He was last seen wearing a long sleeved black shirt with "hot" and "cold" cufflinks, blue Levi jeans and black shoes.