'I feel for the family of missing Samuel'

7 hours ago

Chloe AslettYorkshire

News image — Samuel Smith was last seen near Tarn House Holiday Park in Skipton

North Yorkshire Police A man wearing glasses and a red shirt smiles at the camera, with other people seated at tables in a softly lit indoor setting behind him. — Samuel Smith was last seen near Tarn House Holiday Park in Skipton

Volunteers have gathered near a North Yorkshire holiday park to search the area where a missing man was last seen.

Samuel Smith, 66, was seen on CCTV at about 12:00 GMT on 2 March at the entrance of the Tarn House Holiday Park in Skipton, where he had stayed as a child.

Beverley Miller was among those who joined the search, which was organised by Smith's daughters, Zarah and Charlotte.

She said she wanted to help "in any way" she could, adding: "I really feel for the family."

Lucas, 16, said he and a friend had made a 13-mile bus journey from Colne, Lancashire, where Smith is from, to join the search.

The teenager said: "I wouldn't like it if it was my family member, so I dread to think what it's like for them."

Olivia Richwald/BBC Seven people stand around in a circle, including Smith's daughters, who are holding signs around their necks. — Volunteers searched the area where Samuel Smith was last seen on 2 March

Zarah said: "We genuinely can't thank people enough for their help, from our close friends to complete strangers.

"Even if it's just sharing the posts and keeping his face fresh in people's memories, we are so grateful."

Smith was last seen wearing black trousers, a black coat and a jacket, which appeared to be leather, North Yorkshire Police said.

The force said it had allocated extensive resources towards searching for Smith, including CCTV trawls and house-to-house inquiries.

Olivia Richwald/BBC Two sisters hold handwritten signs attached around their necks. One says "have you seen Samuel"? with four photos of an older man. The other has a bullet point list describing the clothes he was last seen in, next to a CCTV image of him. — Smith's daughters have shared photos of him. He is about 6ft tall, of medium build, with glasses and short greying hair

Critical Incident Insp Jessica Errington said: "We are asking everyone in the local area to remain vigilant.

"I would also like to make a direct appeal to farmers and landowners to check any outbuildings, barns, sheds and open land for signs of Samuel or any indication that he may have been there."

Zarah previously said her dad had taken her to work the day he went missing and had seemed like his "normal self".

Charlotte said they had "no idea" why he had travelled to the holiday park.

"He's a family oriented man, he's loveable, kind, you can go to him with any problem, he's just always there for you," she said.

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