A popular binman, who was reported missing after he was dropped off from work in North Shields, has been found.
Anthony Lauder was reported missing after he was last seen when work colleagues dropped him off near his North Shields home after their shifts finished last Friday.
Anthony, who works as a recycling bin man also helps out at his local pub, The Nautilus, on North Shields' Verne Road.
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He was due to be working behind the bar on Saturday night, but did not turn up.
Anthony's frantic family reported him missing on Monday and had been organising search parties around the local area in a bid to find him. Thankfully, a spokesperson for Northumbria Police has confirmed that Anthony has now been found safe and well.
This comes after his cousin made a heartfelt plea to him to get in touch. Samantha Cramman, 32, said: "Please just contact us and let us know you are safe, we just need to know. Just send us some sort of signal. Everyone loves and misses you."
His family said his disappearance was totally out of character. "He's pretty much a happy-go-lucky young lad," said Samantha. "He works for the local council as a recycling binman.
"He's well-known, he's a people person, he helps out at his local pub. Everyone knows him. He's got a lot of friends, and we are a very close family. This is totally out of character."
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that Anthony was found safe and well."
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