Hunt still on for missing father

Mr Hunter is a keen walker and bird watcher

Police have renewed an appeal to find a County Durham man missing since failing to attend his mother's funeral.

Michael Hunter, 53, a care assistant at Darlington Memorial Hospital, has not been seen since 24 January.

Rescue teams failed to locate the father-of-one after searching moorland near Hamsterley Forest on 3 February.

Sightings of Mr Hunter, from Westmoreland Street, Darlington, have been reported at Bollihope Common in Weardale and Low Force, Teesdale.

The keen walker and bird watcher, was last seen wearing a blue jumper, blue trousers and a faded black baseball cap with a kangaroo motif.

He is married and has a 24-year-old son.

Det Con Vicky Cooper, of Darlington CID, said Mr Hunter was receiving treatment for depression and anxiety.

She added: "It is a month to the day this Sunday that he vanished.

"Obviously as time passes concerns grow, particularly after the recent bad weather, but no one is giving up hope of tracing him."