Search and rescue teams are scouring one of the UK’s highest peaks for an 84-year-old walker from Nottingham who has not returned from a trip up the mountain in Scotland. John Smith, known as Frank, is an experienced fellwalker who has walked on the 1,126-metre (3,694ft) Ben Cruachan in Argyll and Bute several times before, according to his family. He was last seen leaving the Crianlarich hotel at 7.15am on Thursday 5 August and his car has since been found in a parking area frequently used by walkers to access Ben Cruachan. Smith’s daughter, Helen Bang, said she saw her father for the first time in 17 months when he visited her last week before he set off for some fell-walking in the Scottish Highlands. She said that although Frank was “very fit and regularly does 12-mile walks around Nottingham”, the family had tried to dissuade him and asked him to check in with them daily after his walks. She said Frank had fallen into difficulties when fell-walking with her brother three years ago, when he was aided off the mountain by rescue teams after becoming overly tired. “For over 20 years he was my mum’s full-time carer and not able to do these walks,” she said in an appeal for information on Facebook. Searches have been ongoing in the area and continued on Tuesday morning. Insp Emma Louise Scott of Dumbarton police station said: “We are growing increasingly concerned for Frank and considerable effort is being put into locating him by police and partner agencies.” Bang said Frank was seen by walkers on the mountain on Thursday afternoon. Scott said: “I would urge anyone who believes they have seen Frank or spoken to him at the any time since Thursday morning to get in touch urgently. I would also ask any other walkers in the area to be vigilant and if you believe you have any information which could help with the search then please come forward. “Anyone who may have seen Frank, or who has any information on his whereabouts, is urged to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 0922 of 7 August.” Frank is described as being 1.77 metres (5ft 10in) tall and of slim build with grey hair, and was last known to be wearing a dark-coloured jacket, grey trousers, white shirt and a distinctive white sun cap.