THE search continues for a man missing from Conwy Harbour.

Concerns were raised for the boatman, who has been identified by friends as Jim Constance, after an inflatable dinghy he used to travel between his black Coronet 26 and the harbour washed ashore at the RSPB Nature Reserve on Wednesday, December 5.

Mr Constance, a domestic boat user, was last seen on the same day at the Ye Olde Mail Coach, on Conwy High Street, where he was recorded on the pub's CCTV at about 2pm.

Mark Dennis, a friend of Jim and North Wales Cruising Club's operator of the launch and river taxi, said: "Jim's dinghy washed ashore at Glan Conwy near the RSPB Nature Reserve on Wednesday.

"While trying to search for him, I went along the pontoon where he kept his boat and I found his glasses and his phone left in the area where people leave their gear when they are coming on.

"He already had people worrying after he missed appointments and was unavailable on the phone beforehand. We all just want to make sure he's safe."

Mr Dennis put in a Missing Person's report on Friday 7 with North Wales Police, who conducted a search of the harbour area at about 10am on Tuesday 11.

An eyewitness, who wishes to remain anonymous said: "First thing in the morning, at about 10am, there were two dark blue helicopters, which looked like police, sweeping the area.

"There were also two inflatable ribs searching the pontoons, moving really slowly at about five knots and a couple of police cars parked outside the Conwy Mussels plant."

Mr Constance is described as being between 60 and 65, about 5 foot 10 with grey hair and wearing a leather jacket and jeans. He is also known in Conwy for frequenting both the Mail Coach and the Conwy Comrades pubs, and for walking his black and tan terrier.

A spokesperson for police confirmed: "Our enquiries are ongoing to try and find the man.

"There has been a search on Tuesday, December 11 around the Conwy harbour area to try and locate him."

The HM Coastguard at Holyhead have also been made aware of the incident.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101 quoting reference number W174090.