Elderly man missing in bush

Invercargill police will today search for an elderly man who failed to return from a walk through bush yesterday afternoon.

John Hall-Jones, 81, left Invercargill about 8.30am to travel to Longwood Forest, around 45km northwest of Invercargill, and was expected home by 4pm.

A family member contacted police about 7.30pm.

Sergeant Ian Martin of Invercargill Police said Mr Hall-Jones, a former doctor and local historian, was very fit and did a lot of walking in the area.

His car was found on Brown Ridge Road, near Fairfax, about 40km northwest of Invercargill.

Mr Martin said Mr Hall-Jones' failure to return was out of character.

A search would begin early this morning, he said.

- NZPA