A massive search operation has been launched after a 77-year-old vanished from his home in Perthshire.
Fears are growing for the safety of missing William Rattray, who was last seen on Tuesday evening.
A major investigation was launched after the pensioner’s car was found abandoned at his home town of Bridge of Earn, near Perth.
Worried friends and family said his disappearance was “out of character”.
Yesterday, police, mountain rescue crews and firefighters launched an extensive air and water search.
Teams used inflatable boats to scour the River Earn, close to where Mr Rattray’s silver Vauxhall Astra was discovered on Wednesday morning.
Police dogs were also drafted in to hunt for traces of Mr Rattray at the river’s edge, while a helicopter crew carried out an eagle’s eye search of the surrounding countryside.
Meanwhile, detectives are investigating the sighting of an elderly man who was seen walking along a rural road, several miles north of the search area, on Wednesday evening.
Mr Rattray was last seen in the Letham area of Perth at around 7.40pm. His car was found abandoned at Earnbank early the next morning.
A Tayside Mountain Rescue team joined firefighters for an extensive search along the length of the River Earn on Thursday, while divers checked out undergrowth at the water’s edge.
Police have also been carrying out door-to-door inquiries and are trawling through hours of CCTV footage.
When last seen, he was wearing black dress trousers, a dark waist-length waterproof jacket and black gloves.
Officers are also appealing for an elderly man who was seen walking along the B9099 Kinclaven Road, towards Stanley, on Wednesday to get in touch.
The man in his late 70s or early 80s, was spotted at about 5pm. He was slim with grey hair and wore a beige jacket.