POLICE dog teams are set to carry out a search for a man who has been missing for six months.

The operation has been launched to try and find Robert Gibson, 45, who was last seen on June 13 last year.

Mr Gibson left his home in Gipsy Hill, Greater London, and was later seen at 6.45pm on the same day catching the catamaran from Portsmouth to Ryde, on the Isle of Wight.

Officers say he is believed to have boarded a train at Ryde Pier Head toward Lake and Shanklin.

Police are searching the Luccombe Road coastal path in Shanklin from 9am until 4pm today and tomorrow and from 9am until midday on Wednesday.

Mr Gibson is described as being white, six feet tall, of slim build with grey and silver hair, and wears black-rimmed Prada glasses.

He was last seen wearing a blue or grey t-shirt with green or brown khaki trousers.

Detective Sergeant John Stirling, from Newport CID, said: “Robert has been missing for a number of months now, and we are still keen to trace his steps.

“He was last seen in Co-op in Shanklin, and is known to enjoy coastal walks.

"We know that the coastal path near Luccombe Road is a particular route Robert has walked in the past during trips to the Isle of Wight.

“Officers have chosen to search the area now as it was too overgrown during the summer months when Robert was reported missing.  “We hope this search will provide us with additional evidence which may help us trace Robert.”

Anyone who knows where Mr Gibson might be is asked to contact DS John Stirling on 101 and quote reference number 44160231297 or call the Missing People charity on 116000.