SPECIALIST police officers have used drones to help aid their search for a man who has been missing for more than two weeks.
Over a dozen Essex Police officers continued their search for missing man Martyn Richardson, 27, last weekend.
Martyn was last seen in the Bocking area of Braintree at around 8.30pm on Saturday, August 24, and he was reported missing on August 25 after he hadn’t returned home.
He was last seen wearing a grey hoodie with a long-sleeved top underneath with a stripe down the arms, black fleece shorts, and black shoes, he also had a blue bike with him at the time.
For the weekend search, Essex Police’s Marine Unit and Drone Unit returned to the area he was last seen and where his bike was discovered in fields near to the river Blackwater to the east of Church Lane.
The force used thermal imaging drones to detect any heat sources and were given support by Essex Search and Rescue.
Martyn’s family has also issued a plea to bring him home.
Essex Police Superintendent Sharn Taylor said: “A group of three dog walkers, and an individual person, were both seen walking in The Chase, close to Dorewards Avenue and Dorewards Farm, at about 8.45pm on Saturday 24 August.
“We need to identify and speak to these people to establish if they saw Martyn that night.
“Finding these potential witnesses is just one part of the work we have ongoing to try and find Martyn, and those in Bocking will have seen an increased police presence while we’ve searched.
“We have been going door-to-door to speak to residents, reviewing all the CCTV we have gathered, and have carried out checks on his phone and bank.
“All this work is only possible thanks to the support of all the partner agencies we work with, especially Essex Search and Rescue who were out again this weekend in Bocking.
“We continue to remain open minded about what’s happened to Martyn. Like his family, with every day that passes we a growing more and more concerned.”
Anyone who has CCTV, dash cam, or doorbell cameras in this area at around the time Martyn went missing should check them and contact the police if they have any information.
Quote incident 324 of August 25.
Reports can be submitted via the online live chat service which is available 24 hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week.
Visit www.essex.police.uk/digital101 to find out more about online reporting services.
In an emergency always call 999.
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