The search for a missing 70-year-old man is continuing today as firefighters, police and volunteers search an area of North Dorset.

Andrew Latcham, 70, was seen on CCTV leaving supported accommodation on Park Road at 3.30am today, Saturday, December 30.

He last spoke to carers at the home at 6:30pm on Friday night.

Searches have been carried out , including along riverbanks, with the assistance of the NPAS helicopter.

Andrew has dementia and other medical issues, which mean police and his family are particularly worried he may come to harm.

Police say his disappearance from his accommodation is incredibly out-of-character, especially in the middle of the night.

Blandford residents are now being urged to check their gardens and outbuildings in case he has wandered in.


He is described as a white man of thin build and with grey thinning hair. He was clean shaven at the time and wearing white trainers, tracksuit bottoms and a dark-coloured raincoat, without a hat.

Chief Inspector Rob Chalkley, the Force Incident Commander overseeing the search, said: “There have been extensive searches for Andrew in the Blandford area, including along river banks and other open ground, which was assisted by the National Police Air Service helicopter.

“Police and his family are very concerned that he may come to harm. We are now asking for the public’s help to find Andrew and his family have given permission for us to publish a photograph of him.

“If anyone sees a man matching this description, please call 999 as his life could be at risk. If you have any other information that you think could help, please call 101.”

Anyone with information should quote incident number 30:121.