Around a hundred people have volunteered to join the search for a vulnerable man from Wigan with a “heart of gold” who has been missing for 11 days.
Darren Orme was last seen shortly before 9pm on Wednesday 5 March at the junction of Woodhouse Lane and Scot Lane Beech Hill Lane near Standish.
The 54-year-old is a big Wigan Athletic fan. On Saturday 15 March, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) specialist search teams joined the public combing the area near the club’s Brick Community Stadium.
Darren’s family, who attended the search, thanked all those who came to help look for Darren who they say would “never harm anyone”.
Darren’s sister Alison Simm said: “He is so trusting of everyone, he is a loner but he had his own group of friends…he is such a lovely person”.
The family says it is “amazing” how many people came to help and they are “hugely grateful”.
They are particularly appealing to anyone who may have been driving around Wigan on the evening of the 5 March and have dash cameras or may remember spotting Darren to get in touch with them.
The Brickmaker’s Arms in Wigan is Darren’s local pub where he is a regular.
Landlord Harry Bristow said: “Darren is a great character, when he came in here he mixed with everybody, he loved a laugh and I used to enjoy the banter with him”.
He added jokingly but his voice breaking with emotion: “He has to come back because he owes me for the last pint he had.”
Prior to Wigan Athletic’s game against Charlton Athletic, on Saturday 15 March, the team unveiled a missing persons banner ahead of kickoff.
Wigan manager Ryan Lowe says the entire club are “thinking of him”.
Darren has been described as being is 6ft3in tall, slim build with short red/ginger hair.
He was last seen wearing blue jeans, blue trainers, a navy blue Wigan athletic jumper and a three-quarter length blue Wigan Athletic jacket.
GMP Detective Inspector Lee Shaw said: “Specialist officers from across the force are continuing to search for Darren.
“We have searched extensive areas including the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and the River Douglas around the area Darren was last seen.”
She continued: “We remain hopeful of finding Darren and want to retrace his last known movements.
“The number of people who have shared our appeals and are out looking for Darren shows how loved he is by the local community, and I would like to urge the public in continuing to share our appeals and information which may assist us.
“We would like to thank the local community for all their help so far. We know Darren is known to many in the area, and we appreciate all the help from people who have joined the search over the past few days.
“If you have any information on Darren’s whereabouts, or you have any footage which may show Darren since he was reported missing, please call us on 101 quoting log 2423 of 06/03/2025.”
