Search widens for man and boat

British Waterways staff have joined the hunt for a holidaymaker who disappeared on the canal network in a 47ft boat.

David King, 52, vanished after heading out from Middlewich, in Cheshire, five weeks ago.

He was on a £40,000 canal boat called Holly which has a top speed of 4mph.

On March 20, he was seen on the Market Drayton stretch of the Shropshire Union Canal, nearly 30 miles from his starting point and well off course for what is believed to have been a two-week trip to Llangollen.

British Waterways staff today said this is only the second time a boat has been recorded missing on the canal network.

A spokesman said places to hide on a 2,200-mile canal system were limited and it was possible Mr King was heading further south.

He said: "We have only ever known one other boat to go missing. A canal boat is confined to the waterways.

"If you want to get away from it all you can certainly do that but if you want to hide that is a different proposition altogether."

The spokesman added it was hard to say where the boat might be but it was possible Mr King was heading towards his home in St Albans.

Cheshire narrowboat owner Adam Foskett said he was worried not only about Mr King's welfare but also the business's four-berth boat Holly.

Hertfordshire Constabulary said there had been another sighting of Holly at Foxton, in Leicestershire. Anyone with information is asked to contact them on 08453 300222.