THE family of a man who has been missing for almost a year have applied to have him presumed dead.

Edward Leigh Machin, 39, formerly of Glencoe Court in York, was reported missing in January after he failed to log on for a webchat with a friend and did not turn up for work.

Police said he was dropped off by a taxi at the White Horse Inn at Bempton, near Bridlington, and house-to-house checks took place at the time, along with searches by volunteers and rescue officers.

Mr Machin is white, 5ft 4in tall, slim and with dark brown hair and blue-grey eyes. When he was last seen. he was wearing a dark jacket, light shirt, jeans and brown shoes. His brother Ben previously made an appeal for him to get in touch, and police believed he had travelled to Scarborough by train.

This week, a public notice was posted in local newspapers which applied to the High Court of Justice for a declaration of the presumed death of Mr Machin, and urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to intervene as soon as possible.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "Despite extensive efforts from the police to locate Edward Machin he remains missing.

"If anyone has any information about his whereabouts they are urged to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101."

Anyone with information should write to Bristol Chancery Division High Court of Justice, 2 Redcliffe Street, Bristol, BS1 6GR as soon as possible. Information can also be passed to North Yorkshire Police on 101 or to the charity Missing People, anonymously, on 116000.