The search for a missing Huntly man whose 4×4 was found abandoned in the north-east continued yesterday amid growing concerns for his safety.
Martin Thomson, 62, disappeared from his home town on Wednesday and police had initially focused their search there.
But on Friday, his black Mitsubishi Shogun was discovered in the coastal village of Gardenstown, 30 miles from Huntly.
The find prompted search teams to relocate their operations and throughout the day about a dozen police officers, dogs and an RAF helicopter scoured the coastline with the help of a 12-strong coastguard team.
An underwater search unit was also sent to the village.
Last night, police said they were not ruling anything out and would continue hunting for Mr Thomson over the next few days.
Inspector Martin Burgess, who is leading the search operation, said: “We’ve got growing concern for Mr Thomson and, as a consequence of that, the searching is continuing from a police perspective and with the assistance of the coastguard.
“Obviously, the search now has all moved across to the Gardenstown area and we’re focusing our attentions there. We’re trying to keep an open mind with regards to the circumstances.
“There’s nothing to suggest anything suspicious at all.
Mr Thomson’s disappearance was described as being “out of character”.
He is described as 5ft 2in, with balding, strawberry blond hair and is believed to be wearing industrial or work clothes.
He was reported missing around 7pm on Wednesday, and police immediately began looking for his car – which has the registration number SW64GGO.
Insp Burgess added: “The key to our search was the vehicle.
“It’s very much thanks to the media and the public we recovered his vehicle.”
He urged anyone with information on Mr Thomson’s whereabouts to contact police on 101.