Search called off for missing Pendle man (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Search called off for missing Pendle man

2:00pm Saturday 28th January 2012 in Barnoldswick By Chris Gee, Reporter

POLICE have stood down the search for a missing Pendle walker who disappeared while in the Scottish mountains.

Grant Cunliffe, who ran the hair salon, David Grant Hair Design in Barnoldswick for 25 years, has been missing in the Cairngorms since Thursday, January 19.

Days of searches failed to find any trace of the 49-year-old and his family have been told there will be no further searches.

Eariler this week, around 180 rescue personnel were involved in the searches.

The team included representatives from Northern Constabulary, Grampian Police, Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team,Braemar Mountain Rescue Team, RAF and Leuchars Mountain Rescue Teams, SARDA dogs, and Rescue One Three Seven from Lossiemouth.

Mr Cunliffe, who lived in Long Preston, near Skipton, is an experienced walker with decades of experience.

He had changed his career to become an organiser of outdoor activities, indulging his passion for hill walking.

The trip to Scotland was part of his preparations to become a Duke of Edinburgh Award assessor.

He is believed to have walked into Corrour Bothy in the Larig Ghru pass on Wednesday, January 18, intending to go hill walking on the Thursday and Friday before returning home.

He was reported overdue on Saturday, January 21.

Mr Cunliffe is a former pupil at Edge End High School in Nelson, where he met his wife Linda and had two daughters, aged 20 and 16.

Police are urging anyone who believes that they met Mr Cunliffe in the Cairngorms between Wednesday, January 18 and Friday, January 20 to contact Aviemore police on 01479 810222 as they may have information regarding his movements prior to his disappearance.