The search has been called off for a visitor to Orkney who failed to turn up to his home in Auchmithie.

Nat Gossi,29, had been holidaying with a friend in the county but the lads went their separate ways once they got to the Scottish mainland. Nat decided to take the lower road by way of the A9 whilst his mate went by the higher route via Lairg.  His friend who prefers to remain nameless spoke to The Orkney News at the start of the search.

“Nat intended to meet his fiance at the foot of Ben Lomond. It appears they had a bit of a fall out and had parted for good. I think its over.”

He continued:

“We all thought that Nat would get home before me but after I had been back for 3 days we realised this was not the case.”

Friends and family are greatly relieved however after they discovered Nat had been recovering in a Glasgow hostelry having wandered off after the tiff with his missus. It appears that the abundant flowering heather in the glen at Ben Lomond and numerous midgie bites had set off a serious allergic reaction.

In the words of the great intellect and philosopher  Ronald Regan: “Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.”

Reporter: Fergus Graemsay