POLICE searched a lake next to Lakeside Shopping Centre for a missing 63-year-old man.

Officers were called to the complex on Saturday after Michael Forrest disappeared from his home.

They had found CCTV footage, which showed him attempting to withdraw money from the nearby Tesco cash machine at about 2pm last Tuesday, before heading towards the lake.

Fears have been raised because he suffers from dementia and can get extremely confused.

He was last seen at his home, in Ockleford Avenue, Chelmsford, where he lives alone, at about 8am last Tuesday.

Chief Insp Nick Lee, of the Essex Police Marine Unit, led the search on Saturday morning, but nothing was found.

He said: “We have no idea why Mr Forrest travelled from Chelmsford to Lakeside because it was not a place he was known to visit.

“But he has recently been using his bus pass to get around and has been travelling on London Underground to other places he did not usually visit.

“We are extremely concerned for his safety because he is confused, has no access to money and might be trying to travel round using his bus pass. He is extremely vulnerable.”

Police continued to question people yesterday near the Tesco.

They are hoping for information about the whereabouts of Mr Forrest, who worked as a machine operator in Braintree. He has relatives in Scotland and Newcastle.

Mr Forrest is 5ft 8ins tall, slim and has brown eyes.

He has white hair, a moustache and a Scottish accent.

He was last seen wearing a grey duffle coat over a V-necked short-sleeved top, striped light-coloured shirt and black tracksuit bottoms.

Anyone who has seen him should contact police at Chelmsford on 0300 3334444.