POLICE are hunting a pub landlord from Shrewton who is believed to have fled the country with thousands of pounds from a Christmas thrift fund.

Police are trying to track down Malcolm Levesconte, 59, landlord of the Royal Oak, who was last seen on Sunday.

Officers are aware that he booked tickets and boarded a ferry at Portsmouth that evening bound for St Malo in France.

The pub’s Christmas thrift club met each Friday to put money into the scheme, which was due to pay out before Christmas.

Police and a number of other agencies in France are involved in searching for Mr Levesconte.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact Salisbury CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

People who are concerned about money they have paid in to the thrift club can contact the Royal Oak where their details will be passed on to the police.