Police have said that they are growing “increasing concerned for the safety and wellbeing” of a weekly newspaper reporter who is feared to have gone missing while walking in the Scottish Highlands.

Clive Dennier, 50, who works for the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald, was reported missing by his employers after he failed to turn up for work on Monday morning.

Clive, who lives in Inverness, had spoken about going hill walking at the weekend but no one has heard from him since

Police have carried searches for his vehicle, a Volkswagen polo, but have so far failed to find it.

A statement from the Northern Constabulary yesterday said: “Police are continuing inquiries into his disappearance and have spoken to friends and colleagues in relation to places Clive may have gone, given he is a keen and experienced walker.

“Searches have been carried out at car parks in areas he has been known to walk in previously, but at this time there have been no sightings of the vehicle.”

The journalist had been with the Strathspey & Badenoch Herald for around two years and is a former news editor for the Highland edition of The Press and Journal.

Clive drives a silver Volkswagen Polo, registration number SX54 CXD, and the vehicle is particularly distinctive as it is missing its hub caps. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Northern Constabulary.