Police Scotland renew appeal to find missing cyclist on first anniversary of disappearance

Police Scotland have issued a fresh appeal to try and find a cyclist who went missing in the Highlands on the first anniversary of his disappearance.

Anthony Parsons, known as Tony, left his home in Tillicoultry near Stirling and took a train to Fort William on 29 September 2017.

A cancer survivor, the 64-year-old planned to spend the weekend riding the 104-mile trip home for charity, and set off from Fort William at 4.10pm.

At 6pm, he was captured on CCTV riding his yellow-framed bike on the A82 through Glencoe Village.

Mr Parsons, a former Royal Navy submariner, was last seen when he left the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, which lies on the West Highland Way north of Loch Lomond, at approximately 11.30pm that evening.

Mountain rescue teams joined coastguard and police officers to try and find him, with the search concentrated on the area between Bridge of Orchy and Crianlarich.

Described as 5 feet 9 inches tall and of stocky build, he has a moustache and glasses, as well as tattoos of an anchor on his right arm and an eagle on his left arm.

He was wearing a silver and grey cycle helmet, a red waterproof jacket, a blue long-sleeved cycling top, a high-vis vest, fingerless gloves, with beige combat trousers and walking boots and carrying a silver and blue rucksack.

Chief Inspector Drew Sinclair said: “Tony has not been seen again since this time, and his bike has never been traced.

“It has been an agonising year for his family, who have had to get through Christmas, New Year, birthdays and anniversaries without answers about where their husband, dad and grandfather is.

“Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time, and I want to thank the local communities for their co-operation and support throughout our enquiries.

“However, we continue to ask anyone with information which may be able to help, no matter how small it seems, to contact us as soon as possible as it could be key to tracing Tony.

“The area Tony was last seen in is popular with visitors over the summer months. I would therefore also ask anyone who has visited during the past year, and who might have information that can help us establish his current whereabouts, to come forward.

"Tony was last seen wearing cycling gear and the yellow-framed bike he was riding has not yet been found. I would appeal to anyone who may have seen a piece of clothing similar to that which Tony was wearing, or who could have found the bike, to please get in touch immediately.”

He added: "We have not uncovered any evidence at all of any criminality through the extensive searches and inquiries we have conducted. It still remains a missing persons inquiry at the moment.

"We have traced his movements from Fort William, through to Glencoe, through to the Bridge of Orchy Hotel, and then an unconfirmed sighting about a half mile south of the hotel from another lorry driver.

"From there, there's been absolutely no confirmed sightings of Tony or the bike, which a year on, is unusual."

Anyone who has information that may help officers in their efforts to trace Mr Parsons is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101  quoting reference number 0559 of 2nd October 2017.