Family and friends joined the police and rescue experts to search the area
Mountain rescue teams helping in the hunt for missing Fraserburgh man Shaun Ritchie were stood down yesterday.
Mr Ritchie vanished from a remote stretch of north-east countryside more than two weeks ago, and mountain rescuers had been working with police and family members in a massive search operation.
But yesterday Police Scotland confirmed that the teams will no longer be involved in the investigation.
Police search efforts are continuing.
Mr Ritchie was last seen in woodland near Greenburn, north-west of Strichen, in the early hours of November 1 after a Halloween night out with friends.
Last week police released a CCTV image of the 20-year-old taken in a Fraserburgh grocery shop on the day he disappeared.
In the picture, Mr Ritchie is seen wearing dark grey skinny jeans, a grey hooded top and brown shoes.
Some of the clothes were recovered near where Mr Ritchie was last seen and the CID team leading the investigation – who have ruled out criminal activity – believe he may have developed hypothermia and removed the clothing while disorientated.
Detectives are continuing to urge anyone with information about Mr Ritchie’s whereabouts to come forward.
Mountain rescue teams stood down in search for Shaun Ritchie
