Fears are growing over the safety of a man who has been missing from his home in Buckie since Wednesday.
Ian Bramaid, 73, who suffers from dementia, was last seen near his home at 9am on Wednesday morning but despite extensive efforts to locate him he has yet to be found.
An RAF Helicopter has been involved in the search while around 30 local people joined police and coastguards as the search continued on Thursday.
While the initial search concentrated on the coastline Mr Bramaid, who throughout his life was a keen walker, may have walked inland away from the town so searchers were deployed in woods to the south of Buckie and hills around Keith.
On Thursday the search also included the area around Buckpool golf course and in the Arradoul and Portgordon areas.
The pensioner has lived in Buckie for a year after moving from his native Sheffield.
Expressing police concerns for his safety Chief Inspector Willie Findlay said: “He is fit and able but he has got severe dementia. He is extremely confused and has only been in Buckie for a year – but he has got a will to go back to Yorkshire.
“The public have been great and there have been a couple of sightings that put him up in the Drybridge area. He could be down near Keith – we are appealing for people in more rural areas to check all their out-buildings.
“We are grateful for the support of the public and our partner organisations.”
Mr Bramaid was described as being 5ft 5in tall with dark hair receding at the top. When last seen he was wearing a short green waterproof jacket, blue corduroy trousers, a cap, multi-coloured scarf and glasses.
Anyone who may have seen Mr Bramaid is asked to contact police on 101.