WANTED, on the run from police and still missing after more than five weeks, concerns are growing for a man who hired a Middlewich boat.

David King, 52, of Hertfordshire, left Middlewich Narrowboats on board the six-berth Holl y on Friday, March 9, for a two-week holiday.

But when Mr King failed to return on the agreed date of Friday, March 23, staff at the Canal Terrace business contacted police - and they have been searching England's waterways for him ever since.

Countless checks and appeals to fellow narrowboat users have proved fruitless while a sweep of the area by a police search plane also failed to find the vessel.

Middlewich Narrowboats manager Adam Foskett is baffled how the boat can still be missing and is beginning to count the cost of the incident.

Mr Foskett said: 'When he did not return, at first we thought he had been held up at a lock or something. It is also possible to lose track of what day it is on a two-week holiday, especially when you're on a narrow boat.

'There was no urgency because the boat was not due out again but when he still had not returned after the weekend he was expected back, we contacted the police.'

Mr King, who is 6ft 2in tall, left his van in the company's car park and used his credit card to hire the £40,000 narrowboat, capable of speeds up to six mph.

He is described as white and of slim build. He has grey hair and a fresh complexion. Unconfirmed sightings have been reported and police say he was last seen in Foxton, Leicestershire, on Wednesday. His family have refused to comment.

Mr Foskett is hoping for the boat to be returned soon. He added: 'We don't know what state the boat will be in when we get it back... if we get it back. But it's not just the fact we are missing a boat, we are also losing revenue of up to £1,000-a-week in terms of lost boat-hire funds.

'It's frustrating. I thought that I'd have found the boat by Easter Monday.'

British Waterways spokesman Eugene Baston said: 'It's the slowest getaway ever. He seems to have vanished off the face of the earth.'

Anyone with any information should call Hertfordshire Constabulary on 0845 330 0222 or Middlewich Narrowboats on 01606 832460.