Scot looking for Noah's Ark is feared missing

Donald Mackenzie, 43, from Stornoway, has had a long standing fascination with the search for the remains of Noah's Ark and made annual trips to the spot where many travellers claim to have glimpsed remnants of the biblical vessel.

But his family fear his latest trip may have ended in disaster and have raised the alarm, saying he has not contacted home for more than a week.

His mother, well known Gaelic singer Maggie Jean, said: "This is just an awful nightmare.

"I am praying he has managed to keep himself alive. I just want him back home safe."

She said his family had contacted the Foreign Office and Interpol, and had asked for photographs of Mr Mackenzie to be circulated

"I don't even know if they have sent up a search party to look for him.

"He last spoke to his brother Ross, who is in Luxembourg, on 20 September. That's the last we heard of him."

She said the family had not given up hope. "He's a strong guy and is intrepid and resourceful. He's got good camping equipment and all the right gear."

This is not the first time Mr Mackenzie, a member of the Free Presbyterian Church, has been to search for Noah's Ark. He worked on building sites in London to raise money for his trips to Turkey.