LODGES and ponds around Bury are being checked by police following the disappearance of a depressed local man.

Mr Zbigniew Lazurec vanished from his Peers Street home in Bury on Thursday evening (Jan 11).

It is believed that a note was left behind stating his intention to take his own life, possibly by drowning himself. Mr Lazurec was taking morphine to treat a painful mouth infection. A large quantity of the drug was also missing.

As a result, police officers visited a number of lodges, ponds and lakes within the borough in a bid to trace the Polish national. The police helicopter was also brought in over the weekend to use its thermal imagery cameras to check several water-source locations close to the man's home.

Launching an appeal for help by the public, Detective Sergeant Duncan Heywood of Bury's Operational Police Unit said that officers were growing increasingly concerned for the single man's welfare.

He added: "At the moment we have nowhere specific to look for Mr Lazurec. We know that he is a keen rambler and likes to visit lodges and lakes during his walks.

"As a matter of course we are checking all nearby water sites."

Local mountain rescue teams may be brought in to join the search for the 50-year-old and the police diving team may also be called in to check beneath the surface of several lodges.

Born in Poland, Mr Lazurec has lived in Bury for many years. He is described as white, 5ft 9in tall, with short, greying brown hair, blue eyes, and glasses. It is not known what he was wearing when he was last seen at 6pm on Thursday.

Members of the public, especially those out for a walk in open areas, are now being asked to keep an eye open for the bachelor.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of Mr Lazurec they can contact Bury police on 856 8150.