By Gary Cooper

A MAJOR search was launched in Montrose last night for a missing man.

Police called in support from coastguards and an RAF search-and-rescue helicopter as concerns grew for the wellbeing of the 49-year-old.

The man, who was not being named by police last night, was first reported missing from his home shortly before 5pm.

It is understood he suffers from depression, which prompted worries for his safety.

After initial police checks in the town drew a blank, the effort to find him was intensified, with a call for assistance from the coastguard.

Fifteen members of the Arbroath and Montrose coastguard teams joined in the sweep shortly after 9pm, checking an area which included the basin and the harbour.

The basin area came in for close scrutiny as it is believed the man lives close to the large expanse of mud and water.

Coastguard searchers set off parachute flares to illuminate the basin as part of the effort.

The Montrose team, specially trained in mud rescue, had equipment on stand-by in the event of having to enter the mudflats.

By 10.45pm a Sea King helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth, which had earlier been assisting in a search of the hills on the west coast of Scotland, joined the ground-based units.

Crew used high-tech onboard heat-seeking equipment as they swept the harbour channel and basin.