THE family of missing Andrew Scott have appealed to the public's help in finding him.

A search operation on the Dorset coast is ongoing for 27-year-old Mr Scott who has not been seen since leaving home on Monday afternoon.

He is thought to have gone spear fishing at Ringstead Bay sometime after 4pm on Monday.

Police now say that underwater searches are due to be carried out by divers throughout the day today (July 13). 

His family said in a statement today: “We are desperate to have Andrew home safe and well with us.

“We would appeal to anyone with any information to contact police, no matter how small or insignificant it seems, as it could potentially help to find Andrew.”

Police said Mr Scott left his home at Winterborne Whitechurch between 3pm and 4pm on Monday but failed to return home later as expected.

A huge search led by HM Coastguard and involving search and rescue helicopters, lifeboats, police officers and coastguard ground teams was launched on Monday evening after Mr Scott's bag was found at White Nothe on Monday evening and his car was found at Ringstead Bay.

The search resumed again on Tuesday. Volunteers from Dorset Search and Rescue (DorSAR) were also supporting the effort.

Mr Scott was possibly wearing a full black North Coast wetsuit, blue flippers and a snorkel. His bright orange dry bag containing his car keys, mobile phone and clothing were found on the coastline.

A number of searches have been carried out around the Ringstead Bay area and efforts by Dorset Police to locate Mr Scott continue.

However HM Coastguard said today, Wednesday, its searches had been stood down.

Police are concerned that Mr Scott may have come to harm in the water.

Picture, below, of Coastguard teams at Ringstead on Tuesday by DORSET MEDIA SERVICE

Dorset Echo:

Wyke and Lulworth Coastguard Rescue Teams confirmed that there were personal effects on the beach.

Duncan Ley, controller for the UK Coastguard said: "There was enough information for us to be concerned for this snorkeller’s whereabouts and an extensive search of the shoreline and coast was launched." 

The Coastguard Rescue Teams along with HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lee-on-Solent, two lifeboats from Weymouth and one from Swanage have been conducting the search overnight along with Dorset Police.

A Coastguard helicopter from Newquay base joined the search on Tuesday.

Mr Ley added: "The search will resume again after crew rest but in the meantime if anyone has information that can help us with finding this man, or if it is you and you are safe, please call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."

Chief Inspector Bryan Duffy, of Dorset Police, said: “Our belief is that Andrew went spear fishing at Ringstead Bay.

“Extensive searches have been carried out overnight in a bid to find Andrew but these have not been successful. The search will continue this morning.

“I would ask anyone who has seen Andrew or a man matching the description of what he was wearing in the Ringstead Bay area to please contact Dorset Police urgently.”

Weymouth RNLI said it was alerted at 11.50pm to request the all-weather and inshore lifeboats join in the search.

Dorset Echo:

The beach at Ringstead this morning Picture: DORSET MEDIA SERVICE

Weymouth RNLI spokesman Ken Francis said: "Wyke Coastguard started a land search while the lifeboats conducted a close in and off shore search of the sea from Osmington to Worbarrow Tout. The Coastguard helicopter from Lee on Solent also joined in the search.

"At approximately 2.10am this morning Swanage all-weather lifeboat joined in the search.

"The search continued all night with nothing found.

"Weymouth Inshore lifeboat was released at 5am and the all-weather lifeboat released at 5.45am."

The Swange lifeboat launched and then proceeded to Worbarrow Bay to perform a search pattern, which it carried out from 3.09am to 5.57am 

Residents living in Ringstead were 'surprised' and saddened by the news.

Mary Langdon, who is staying in Ringstead on holiday, returned to her holiday home late last night to find coastguards and police searching the area.

She said: “We drove back home at half past 11 to find a helicopter in the sky, and a police car and a couple of coastguard vans in the car park. The helicopter was out until very late and was very low in the sky. Police were also walking up and down the beach to see if they could see anything.

“We have been coming here for twenty-five years and since our children were small. It has always been a safe, family beach. Yesterday the beach was full of people having a good time.

“I was surprised by the number of coastguards. I was impressed by the amount of them trying to find the man. It was a very thorough search and was undertaken in the pitch black, I was very impressed. “

Patricia Roles, a resident of Ringstead said: “The helicopter didn’t wake me, it was the strobe lights. I saw green lights flashing and thought something is amiss. The lights were flashing until ten past one. It made us feel very queasy. We have a lot of sympathy for those waiting for news.”

A resident who didn't want to be named said: “The helicopter woke me up at about three o’clock. Clearly the rescue teams do a marvellous job, there were three lifeboats out there last night. It is re-assuring to find that we have services that react very quickly. It is usually quite a quiet place to live.”

Dot Tolson and Adele Charles who both work for The Kiosk in Ringstead said: “We were quite surprised and sad to hear about the news. It is unusual for us to get a single spear-fisherman to come down. There is usually a group of them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 10:569. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.