Six Nations: Missing Wales rugby fan concern mounts

Ben Thompson was last seen in Cardiff city centre after watching the match

Police are becoming "increasingly concerned" for a Wales rugby fan who disappeared after Saturday's Six Nations match in Cardiff.

Ben Thompson, 34, from Haverfordwest, was last seen by friends in Mill Lane at about 18:30 GMT after Wales lost to Ireland at the Millenium Stadium.

He walked to Canton and is believed to have been spotted on CCTV there about 40 minutes later.

His wife Joanne said they were all "desperately worried".

She told Wales Online that her husband, who works at South Hook LNG gas plant in Pembrokeshire, had been drinking before the match which he had won tickets to.

Mrs Thompson last spoke to her husband just after the game ended when he called to tell her he was heading to their favourite Cardiff pub.

'Fuzzy image'

She said he was in the city centre with a friend but her husband disappeared after the friend had to leave him.

"He was sighted on a road leading towards Penarth and there's a fuzzy CCTV image of him at around 7pm, but that's the last time we have seen him," she said.

Residents in the Canton are are being asked to check gardens and outbuildings.

House-to-house inquiries are also being conducted in the Canton area of the city where it is believed Mr Thompson was seen on CCTV at about 19:07 GMT near the junction of Leckwith Road and Wellington Street.

Lace-up boots

Ch Insp Eddie Ough, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are becoming increasingly concerned for Ben's welfare and we are doing all we can to find him safe and well.

"Extensive enquiries are on-going particularly in the Canton and Leckwith areas where we believe Ben has walked to from the city centre on Saturday evening.

Mr Thompson is 5ft 9in (1.75m) tall, with short brown hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing brown leather lace-up boots, jeans, and, possibly, a white shirt with blue thin stripes

Mr Ough urged anyone with information who who may have seen Mr Thompson to contact the command room at Cardiff Bay Police Station.