FURTHER searches have been carried out around Hardy’s Monument for missing Weymouth man Nicholas Crocker.

Officers scoured the area again yesterday for the 55-year-old, who has been missing since Wednesday, September 21 and is believed to have a pistol in his possession.

Police initially searched near the monument last Thursday and returned there yesterday following new information from the public.

Family liaison officer PC Vicky Iveson said: “Further searches were done around Hardy’s Monument but whatever searches completed were negative.

“We have had a couple of bits of information, which is why we did the further search.”

PC Iveson said there has been very little response to the press conference held by the family and police on Monday.

Mr Crocker’s stepdaughter Kate Wills and his sister Jenny Crocker made a heartfelt plea for him to return home, while police said he had nothing to fear from an inquiry the night before he disappeared about a ‘minor theft’.

PC Iveson added: “All we can do is respond to any information we have. There has been a response, but not a massive amount.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101.