As darkness fell last night a major Police search of a park on the south shore of the Island had failed to find any trace of a missing man last seen on Friday afternoon.

A large lake at the centre of the sprawling Spittal Pond park appears to be next on the list of places to be searched, although officers involved in the investigation were not speculating on their next move.

The park in Smith?s Parish was a hive of activity yesterday as 20 officers fanned out across the area searching for clues as a call was made for members of the public with any information about Raymond Howes to get in contact urgently.

It is now more than 72 hours since Mr. Howes was last seen at the MarketPlace store on Church Street in Hamilton at 3 p.m. on Friday.

Since then nothing has been seen of the 49-year-old Devonshire man. The only clue to his whereabouts came on Sunday when his motorcycle was found unattended at Spittal Pond late on Sunday evening.

Police officers taking part in yesterday?s search of the parkland combed an area between the parking lots at the eastern and western edges of the park, having begun their search the previous evening after the discovery of Mr. Howes? bike.

Marine Police also took part in the search using a launch boat off the coast of the park.

The missing man is described as dark-brown skinned, 5ft 5in tall, of slim build and with close-cut dark brown hair.

Mr. Howes was wearing a plaid shirt and dark blue trousers when he was last seen.

A Police spokesman would not speculate on whether divers had already been brought in ? or would be brought in soon ? to trawl the park lake, but said: ?We are using all the resources within the Bermuda Police Service.?