POLICE in Worcestershire are growing "increasingly concerned" for the welfare of an 82-year-old man who has been reported missing.

The last official sighting of pensioner Ernest Upward, known as Michael, was at 9.30am yesterday morning (Friday 17) at a home in Holly Green, Upton, where he was staying.

Despite scrambling the police helicopter yesterday afternoon, the force has still been unable to track dow Mr Upward - who suffers from dementia.

Inspector Andy Smith said: "Mr Upward has a medical condition that makes him extremely vulnerable and we are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare.

"He was staying in the Upton-upon-Severn area for a few days but lives in Pershore so we would also ask people in that area to be on the look out for him.

"He is physically fit and capable of travelling so we are looking into the possibility that he may have tried to return home. We believe he has travelled on foot.

"We did have a possible sighting of him heading from the Priestfield junction towards Hanley Swan yesterday evening at between 7.30pm to 8.15pm.

"So the search is currently covering a very wide area of Worcestershire.

"I would urge people in these areas to be on the lookout for Mr Upward and also to check around their properties for any sign of him."

He is described as being 6ft tall, of medium build and with grey hair.

At the time he went missing Mr Upward was wearing glasses, a brown Tweed jacket, brown trousers and brown pointy shoes.

Anyone who thinks they may have seen Mr Upward is urged to call police on 101, quoting incident number 240 of April 17.