Abandoned camp sparks huge search
Dec 8 2006 By Robert Brooks, The Journal
A huge search of a remote North-East forest has failed to find any trace of campers who abandoned their tent and vanished.
The blue, four-man shelter was discovered in the densely wooded Simonside Hills on Wednesday by a Forestry Commission worker.
It was at least two miles from the nearest road.
Inside was a stock of frozen food, bought from Tesco, enough to last at least three or four days.
A camp bed, stove and kettle were also found, as well as a kettle barbecue which was still warm.
But there was no sign of anyone who had been using it.
Worried police called in a helicopter and specialists from the Northumberland National Park Search and Rescue Team, fearing the occupants had fallen foul of the weather or rugged terrain near Rothbury.
A concentrated sweep of the area surrounding the camp was carried out by 15 searchers and three tracker dogs, while an extra 40 volunteers remained on standby.
But after scouring the forest for several hours, the search was stood down.
A spokesman for Northumbria Police said: "There are no reports of anyone missing in connection with this, however police are still keen to hear from anyone who may know who the camping gear belongs to and for its owner to contact the police to let them know they are safe and well.
"Officers stress the owners are not in trouble, but they need to ensure no-one is injured."
National Park search team leader Bill Ellis said: "It's like they vanished off the face of the earth.
"There are two possibilities. Either they have had an accident and haven't been found yet, or they found it too cold, got in their car and went home.
"If any Journal readers know about this tent and who was with it, could they please contact the police so we know they are OK."
The Forestry Commission is expected to dismantle the tent and put it into storage today, until the owner comes forward to claim it.
- Anyone with information is asked to call (0191) 214-6555 and ask for the Northern Communications Centre, quoting log number 1391 of December 5.
