A SCOTTISH couple have launched a desperate search for the East Lancashire relatives of a critically ill army veteran.

William Robert Sherlock, 71, who is on a life-support machine, has no known relatives in Forres, on the Moray Firth, where he is fighting for life.

He has told doctors that his next of kin are Robbie and Carol Sutherland who run the Red Lion Hotel in Forres.

But the couple believe Mr Sherlock, known as Bob, has a brother and sister living in the Blackburn area and have asked the Salvation Army to help trace them.

His brother is called James Sherlock and his sister is Betty. At some point his sister was called Betty Walsh.

Mr Sherlock, who served in the Highland Regiment, had a leg amputated last week and is suffering from heart trouble, liver, kidney and circulatory problems. Mr Sutherland said: "We are quite happy to be his next of kin but feel it is only right we try and trace his brother and sister.

"We have been here for eight years and he has been a regular during that time and has played for our darts, dominoes and pool teams.

"He was brought up as an orphan with his brother and sister. He never married and when he was younger he became a darts champion in the Carlisle area.

"We know that his sister, who we think is older than Bob, was a nurse in Blackburn in her younger days."

"We also know that a few years ago she traced Bob through the Salvation Army."

But Major Derek Jones, from the Salvation Army in Blackburn, said: "We have contacted our family tracing service which has been unable to help because we have only scant details about Mr Sherlock.

"We would urge anybody who may have any information to contact us on 01254 59110."

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