Seventy people took part today in a huge search for missing Jonathan Danskin. It was one of the biggest operations of its kind ever seen in the Otley area.

Friends, family and local people turned out in force to comb the area for the 28-year-old who has not been seen since he ran into the River Wharfe a week ago after his car was stopped by police.

People gathered outside Otley police station at 10.30am to be organised into three groups. They were centring on the Chevin and heading towards Guiseley where Mr Danskin lives.

Young people and pensioners armed with walking sticks joined the hunt along with Mr Danskin's family and his girlfriend Lisa Dickson.

"It is a brilliant turnout and there are quite a few more people due to join in when they finish work at lunchtime. It just goes to show how many friends he has," said Miss Dickson.

One of the search party said: "We are keeping out fingers crossed and hope that anything we can do will help find Jonathan."

Underwater searchers and other enquiries have failed to find Mr Danskin since he vanished in the early hours of last Sunday.

His family believe he may have got out of the river and could be laying low fearing he is trouble. Posters showing his photograph have also been circulated in the area.

Inspector Gary Parker who was leading the investigation said: "The turnout shows what a popular figure Jonathan is in the local community.

"We have got ten officers, including special constables, who will be supervising the search.

"The problem is that no one has seen Jonathan since he went into the water. We don't know if he got into difficulties or is hiding and scared to come

forward."

Miss Dickson spent yesterday afternoon in woods after being directed there by a Bradford medium who told her Jonathan was still alive but needed to be found within 24 hours.

Today she said: "We covered quite a big area in Farnley Woods until it was dark, but there are still areas which have not been covered and we hope to find something today."

Inspector Nigel Hirst of Weetwood Police, said: "The search is on a par with what we normally do for this sort of incident.

"It is one of the largest searches for anyone that I can remember."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.