Foot and mouth disease has hampered police officers in their search for a man who has gone missing after living for months in a tent.

Search and rescue teams have had to visit farms and cross farmland at Stanbury in their hunt for 38-year-old Andrew Paul Jefferson.

Mr Jefferson lived in a tent in woodland near Ponden reservoir and was last seen on March 3 by a friend who lived nearby.

Detectives have been unable to find his passport, although his cheque book was left behind in the tent along with his toiletries.

Det Chief Insp Roger Gasson, of Keighley police, said: "The foot and mouth crisis has hampered us. We have had to identify ourselves at each farm and then disinfect."

Divers from the forces underwater unit have searched areas of the reservoir.

And the Calderdale search and rescue team has assisted in combing footpaths and woodland.

A team had also searched Top Withens, near Haworth, which Mr Jefferson enjoyed visiting.

A police helicopter with a heat seeking device has also joined the hunt.

"But so far we have had no trace of him. We must keep an open mind and he might have gone abroad," said Mr Gasson.

He stressed that there were no suspicious circumstances, but officers were concerned about Mr Jefferson's well-being and state of mind. Police were continuing to make inquiries with his family and friends.

Mr Jefferson, who is originally from Hillcrest Road, Thornton, Bradford, had been living in a tent since November and is understood to weigh only eight stone, having lost about three stone.

He left some belongings in the tent and a hire car.

He was last seen wearing a knee-length anorak in two shades of green, blue jeans and a dark jumper.

He has fair or light brown short cropped hair, which is described as unkempt. He is 5ft 6in tall.

Anyone who has information about Mr Jefferson should contact police on 01535 617059.