THE wife of a missing Witney man has urged people who may have seen her husband to come forward as police extend their search to the river.

Derek West, 78, was last seen at his home in Meadow Lane on Monday night.

Police have been searching the Witney area, with specialist teams searching the River Windrush.  

Mr West's wife Hilary said: “This is very out of character for Derek.

"I would ask anyone in the area to look at his picture to remember if they have seen him in the last two days.

"I am so worried and Derek’s friends and family are so worried. We just want to find him.”

Mr West is described as 5ft 9ins, thin, with short grey hair. He was last seen wearing a blue sweater and jeans over pyjamas with Crocs-style shoes.

He is known to frequent the areas around Hill Park Road allotments, St Mary’s Church and Church Green, Witney.

Searches have been taking place across the Witney area. Thames Valley Police’s mounted section helped with the search yesterday.

Specialists have searched 1.6km of River Windrush and have been in the river searching for him.

Volunteers from Oxfordshire Lowland Search and Rescue (OxSAR) are out today and have conducted search activity.

There may also be people searching along the river at the weekend.

Insp Lewis Prescott-Mayling, who is leading the search for Mr West, said: “We would urge anyone who recognises Derek from the description and picture and think they may have seen him to please contact us.

“While we have been searching the river we are also doing extensive land searches across Witney too.”

Anyone who has seen Derek or knows of his whereabouts if asked to call 101 as a matter of urgency.