THE search for a missing pensioner has moved to Northumberland after CCTV was found of him getting off a bus in a coastal village.
Police looking for Alexander Nicol, 73, have released the CCTV images of him catching a bus from Gosforth in Newcastle to Alnmouth, Northumberland.
It has now been more than a week since Mr Nicol was last seen. The former librarian was reported missing last Friday night by staff at the sheltered accommodation where he lives when he failed to turn up for a Burns’ night celebration he had organised for other residents.
CCTV footage has revealed that Mr Nicol caught the 10.14am X18 bus, destined for Berwick from the Regent Centre in Gosforth on Friday morning.
He got off at a stop in Alnmouth at around 11.45am. He was last seen walking towards the train station at just after 4pm the same day. Police are now appealing for anyone who was on the bus to contact them as officers now focus their search on Alnmouth.
CCTV cameras are being checked and police are visiting cafes, churches and libraries in the area to ask if anyone has seen Mr Nicol.
Supt Paul Orchard, of Northumbria Police’s Newcastle Area Command, said: “Officers have being viewing extensive CCTV footage and we now know that Mr Nicol got on the X18 bus at the Regent Centre and got off at Alnmouth.
“He spent a few hours in Alnmouth and I’d ask anyone who was in the village last Friday to think back and ask themselves whether they saw him.
“We know he visits churches and libraries and may have visited a cafe or shops in the village. It’s now a week since Mr Nicol was last seen. We’ve had a good response from the public so far and still want to hear from anyone who thinks they may have seen him to contact us.”
Mr Nicol left his home on Friday morning and was caught on CCTV arriving at Jesmond Metro Station at around 9.25am, before boarding a train heading towards Newcastle Airport at 9.33am.
He got off the Metro at Regent Centre at 9.41am and turned right from the station. He then walked towards Gosforth Library before spending around 10 minutes inside the building and leaving. He was then seen heading back in the direction of the bus stops at Regent Centre from the library.
