Brian Fletcher, 80, went missing last month
A body has been found in the search for a missing pensioner from Bury, police have said.
Brian Fletcher, 80, went missing while on a walk in Tockholes last month. A huge search operation was launched, with police scouring the surrounding area for any clues on his whereabouts. His car was later found in a layby off the A675.
Blackburn and Darwen Police have now confirmed that a body believed to be that of Mr Fletcher was discovered in a ‘remote area of moorland’ a few miles west of the A675 at Roddlesworth on Friday (April 18).
The force added there is not thought to be any suspicious circumstances linked to his death. He was described as a ‘keen walker and bird watcher’.
In a post on Facebook they wrote: “It’s with a heavy heart that we bring you a sad update on Brian Fletcher who went missing last month.
“Extensive enquiries have been carried out to try to find Brian over the last three weeks and yesterday morning (Friday, April 18th) the body of a man was discovered deceased in a remote area of moorland a few miles west of the A675 at Roddlesworth.
“While formal identification has not yet taken place, we believe it to be Brian.
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“Brian, 80, travelled from his home in Bury on Saturday 22nd March to Tockholes, an area he visited regularly as he’s a keen walker and bird watcher.
“His car was found parked in a layby on the A675, near to Tockholes Road. The sad news has been delivered to Brian’s family and our thoughts are with them at this time. While this is not the outcome anybody would have wanted, we at least hope that this can bring them some sense of closure.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be passed to HM Coroner in due course. We would just like to take this opportunity to thank everybody who shared our appeals and all of the partner organisations who assisted with our search, and we again pass on our heartfelt condolences to Brian’s family.”