POLICE are continuing to scour the Northumberland countryside for missing pensioner Alexander Nicol.

The 73-year-old vanished from the sheltered accommodation complex in Newcastle where he lives more than three weeks ago.

He was last seen on January 25, just after 4pm, in Alnmouth, walking towards the train station.

But despite repeated appeals from police and extensive searches, Mr Nicol’s whereabouts remain unknown.

Supt Paul Orchard, of Northumbria Police, who is leading the search, said: “It has now been three weeks since Mr Nicol was last seen and we are becoming increasingly concerned for him.

“The last confirmed sighting we have of him was in Alnmouth three weeks ago and at the moment we are continuing to focus our search in the area.

“We have had extra resources in Alnmouth and Lesbury. Officers have been carrying out extensive searches of the area using a range of resources to help us establish where he may have gone after he was last seen.”

Former librarian Mr Nicol was reported missing after he failed to turn up at a Burns’ Night celebration he had organised at the sheltered accommodation where he lives on January 25.

He was seen 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.

CCTV footage has revealed that Mr Nicol caught the 10.14am X18 bus, destined for Berwick from the Regent Centre. He got off at a stop in Alnmouth at around 11.45am.

He was not believed to be in ill health or have any medical conditions when he was last seen.

Mr Nicol is known to frequent libraries and churches and was believed to be in the process of tracing his family history.

Supt Orchard added: “We’re continuing to ask anyone who was in Alnmouth three weeks ago to think back and let us know if they think they saw someone fitting Mr Nicol’s description.

“No matter how unimportant they might think the information they have may be, it could prove crucial to us .”

Anyone with any information about his whereabouts is asked to call Northumbria Police on 101.