DETECTIVES are hunting a depressed man who vanished after thousands of pounds went missing from the safe at Worsley Golf Club.

They are urging golf club caretaker and handyman John Hooley, aged 52, to get in touch.

Mr Hooley, of Brookhouse Avenue, Worsley, is understood to have been doing repair work after the premises closed on Monday night.

Golf club employees arrived at the club yesterday to find the main doors unlocked, the safe open and the keys in the lock. The cash was missing. Earlier yesterday Mr Hooley is believed to have telephoned the police asking for officers to visit him at his home. When officers arrived 20 minutes later he had gone.

Police discovered a note in the house which indicated Mr Hooley is in a "very depressed" state.

Det Chief Insp Kenny Caldwell of Swinton CID said: "Our primary concern is for his welfare. He has phoned the police once and I would urge him to do so again.

"Before everything else we want to establish that Mr Hooley is safe and well."

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