New police appeal to help find Mark

Police supporting family members in the search for missing Mark Westall have turned to the online community for help.

Officers in Ulverston, Barrow and the South Lakes area have been searching for 44 year old Mr Westall on behalf of his family for eight days and, as the search continues, they have turned to their Twitter followers and Facebook friends for help.

The search is concentrating on the area of the disused railway line just north of Plumpton House in Ulverston after it was confirmed that a jacket discovered there by the Duddon-in-Furness Mountain Rescue Team dog yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 31 January) belonged to Mark. 

Kevin Spedding who is the policing Inspector for the Ulverston area said: “Our priority over the last week has been to find Mark safe and well so that he can be reunited with his friends and family. Our efforts today centre around the Plumpton area where a team of around 15 officers from Cumbria Constabulary and British Transport Police are thoroughly searching the area after Mark’s jacket was discovered in the area.

“Mark has been without money, a change of clothes or his medication for a week now which adds to his family’s worry about his safety and wellbeing.

“Mark – you are not in trouble with the police and you haven’t done anything wrong. Your parents and friends are so worried about you and have asked us to help them find you. Please, if you see this, contact your mum or your family so that they know you are safe.”

Police officers have turned to Twitter to boost their appeal and are asking local people to help them start ‘trending’ #helpfindmark.

Inspector Spedding added: “Over the last week we have been searching, issuing posters and speaking to local residents in a bid to establish Mark’s whereabouts and despite some information coming into us from the public, we are yet to find him.

“We hope that if local people start re-tweeting our appeals then this additional branch of our search will help to spread the word and generate more information from the public. Hopefully this will help us to reunite Mark with his family.”

He is described as white, 5' 6'' tall, of a stocky build with dark brown, collar length wavy hair. He was last seen wearing an orange jacket and blue trousers, with a light coloured sweatshirt worn under his jacket.

If you think you have seen Mark or have any information about his whereabouts, please contact Ulverston police on 101 immediately.