A POLICE helicopter search has failed to locate a Cowlersley man missing in Switzerland.

Geoff Bottomley has not been seen for 17 days after leaving his hotel in the Wengen region.

It is believed he’d had breakfast and then gone for a walk in the lower area of the Alps.

The last sighting of the 71-year-old was in or around the village of Lauterbrunnen on June 14.

But a report in a Swiss newspaper said that despite a large-scale search with a helicopter and dogs, Geoff Bottomley is still missing without trace.

And concern is growing for the well-known Huddersfield pianist who was on a walking holiday.

His nephew John wrote on a website: “My uncle is on a walking holiday in Wengen. He was last seen on Tuesday, June 14, morning at breakfast in his hotel, he is believed to have gone walking low down in Wengen.

“If anybody has seen him, or is going to Wengen, or knows anyone going to Wengen please keep your eyes open and let me know any information.”

A picture of the coat he may have been wearing has been released.

Geoff, 71, whose first name is John, was wearing a red and grey Paramo waterproof jacket.

The experienced walker has been reporter as missing with the Bern Cantonal Police.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office told the Examiner yesterday: “The police in Switzerland are aware of his disappearance as are the police in Huddersfield. The consular in Switzerland yesterday spoke to the police and there is no update.

“We are providing assistance to his family now and that will be ongoing.”