POLICE investigating the disappearance of missing pensioner Jack Hawthornthwaite today said they believed he would turn up.

Mr Hawthornthwaite, 69, went missing from the Highfield Residential Home, in Sudell Road, at about 1am on Tuesday March 13.

Detectives have since had a number of sightings of a man fitting his description in and around Darwen, including one in Priory Drive, Darwen, about 15 hours after he was reported missing.

Today Inspector Tracie O'Gara of Darwen CID said: "You have always got be optimistic and keep trying and until we have anything contrary to believe we must maintain he will turn up.

"Last year one man had been missing for three and a half weeks but turned up in Manchester selling the Big Issue after booking himself into a homeless hostel."

Mr Hawthornthwaite is described as 5ft 10ins and slim with a pale complexion, brown eyes and thinning grey hair.

He was wearing a light blue jacket, navy tracksuit bottoms and slippers. He walks with a staggering motion and is known to suffer dizzy spells.