Fence Houses, Houghton-le-Spring

On the evening of Wednesday 25 May Northumbria Police requested Mountain Rescue’s assistance for a search in the Fence Houses area near Houghton-le-Spring. A high risk male in his mid 30s had last been seen leaving his house on the previous Monday.

A search plan was agreed with the Police Search Adviser on Tuesday evening. With the areas close to or in Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team’s operational area, they were requested to attend alongside ourselves and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Team.

Searches through heavily wooded and overgrown areas were conducted the next day to the north of Fence Houses and along the Lumley Park Burn.

Despite everyones’ best efforts nothing was found and Police investigations are ongoing.

The incident involved 4 Team members for 1 hour 30 minutes on Wednesday evening and 23 Team members for 9 hours 45 minutes on Thursday.