A MISSING man at the centre of a bizarre murder probe is a former Huddersfield police officer.

John Hay, 61, vanished almost a week ago and despite no body being found, a 63-year-old Huddersfield man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

He was still being held in custody last night.

Now the Examiner has learned Mr Hay is a former police officer.

He served as a constable in the former West Yorkshire Constabulary in Huddersfield and was a policeman for about 20 years, including several in the traffic division.

In recent years he worked in the town as a builder.

The huge investigation into his disappearance continued yesterday in Huddersfield and in Humberside, where Mr Hay was last seen a week ago.

In Thongsbridge, staff at a stone works site in Woodhead Road were sent home yesterday morning after police closed the site.

An unmarked police car with a uniformed officer remained at the gates of the entrance to the site of Hagg Wood Stone Quarry.

It is only a few hundred yards from the house and smallholding that were subjected to an extensive police search throughout Tuesday.

Police officers combed land around the house off Upper Hagg Road.

And officers remained at the scene yesterday, although there was no sign of any search taking place.

Elsewhere police inquiries are ongoing in the Humberside area.

Mr Hay, of Fenay Bridge, was last seen on Thursday March 15 in Hessle, East Yorkshire, and close to the landmark Humber Bridge.

Police have searched the areas close to where he was seen.

Officers have also carried out a search of land near to Honley Livery Stables, off Meltham Road.

Mr Hay was due home at lunchtime last Thursday but did not return.

Mr Hay is white, 6ft 4in tall with thick white hair and is of average build. He was last seen wearing navy or black trousers, a white T-shirt and a gilet.

His plain white panel van, bearing the registration A12 HAY, was seen in Hessle on Friday and later found abandoned near to the Humber Bridge.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “A 63-year-old man is still in custody and we are still appealing for anyone who may have seen John Hay to contact us.”