THE search was continuing last night for a York man who was last seen running towards the River Ouse after abandoning his car.

Chris Baker, 29, of Albermarle Road in South Bank, suddenly left his grey Renault Megane in the city-centre last Thursday morning, gestured to a woman in a car behind, then jumped over the wall of Skeldergate Bridge into Tower Gardens.

Heavy rain and flooding have hampered North Yorkshire Police’s plans to search the swollen, fast-flowing Ouse with divers, and the force has reissued its appeal for information.

When Mr Baker vanished, at about 7.15am on Thursday, he was driving to Hull Royal Infirmary, where he is an accountant with the City Healthcare Partnership.

He is originally from Burry Port in Carmarthenshire, South Wales, and moved to York with his wife, Megan, six years ago. His car was abandoned at the roundabout between Skeldergate Bridge and Tower Street.

“Extensive searches have been carried out in and around York as part of the investigation to establish the full circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Mr Baker,” said a North Yorkshire Police spokesman yesterday.

“Officers are continuing to support Mr Baker’s family at this very distressing time.” Mr Baker is white, about 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build with curly dark brown hair. He was wearing a striped shirt and work trousers.

Anybody with information should phone the police on 101.

Police also launched a search on Saturday for Duncan McKeith, 39, of Cygnet Street, York, who went missing for more than 24 hours. He was subsequently found safe at his home just before midnight on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Humberside Police officer Sgt Neale Coy, 50, from Goole, who was reported missing on Saturday after failing to report for a night shift last Friday, was found safe later on Saturday in Scunthorpe.