Vital hours wasted in search for seaman Timmy MacColl

Vital time may have been lost in the search for a missing Perthshire sailor because police distributed a picture of the wrong man, it has been claimed.

Leading Seaman Timmy MacColl (27) has been missing in Dubai since May 27.

A report in a national newspaper claimed the blunder was only spotted after 15 days, when his uncle travelled to the Middle East to join the search.

It is believed the man in the original picture was in a similar T-shirt to that worn by Timmy originally from Killin when he was last seen entering a taxi after a night out.

The last person to see him was Colin Baxter (29), from Armadale, West Lothian, who said he chatted to the father of two in the street before they took separate taxis.

He said: ”I would say Timmy was in good spirits and was a guy who had enjoyed a good night out and just wanted to get home.”

The developments came as Portsmouth’s Spinnaker Tower was lit yellow on Sunday to raise awareness of his plight.

Timmy’s pregnant wife, Rachael (25), of Gosport, Hants, said: ”The pain comes in waves. Day to day, what I think changes. Whatever happens, I just want him home.”