Celebrity chef and TV personality Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, of Axminster's River Cottage, has joined police in appealing for information on his missing friend.

A police appeal has been launched as they seek help in trying to find missing journalist and TV presenter Nick Fisher, 63.

He left his home in the village of Hooke, near Bridport, in his silver Nissan Navara (YE71 DFA) pick up on Tuesday afternoon, with his brown and white spaniel. The car was seen just half an hour later on a police camera near Dorchester.

The appeal has been backed by multi-award-winning writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, who said on Twitter: "It seems Nick might have bought a cup of tea in a hotel near Dorchester, but he didn't stay there and he hasn't been seen since.

Commenting on Twitter, he said: "I never thought I would be using social media for this, but my very dearest friend Nick Fisher, who some of you will know from his journalism and telly work, has gone missing.

"He left his home in the village of Hooke near Bridport in his silver Nissan Navara YE71 DFA pick up on Tuesday afternoon, with his brown and white spaniel. The car was seen just half an hour later on a police camera near Dorchester.

"It seems Nick might have bought a cup of tea in a hotel near there, but he didn't stay there and he hasn't been seen since. It's so unlike Nick to do this and of course we are very worried for his safety.

"We are desperate to find him and if you have seen anything at all that could help us please call 101 and quote the case number 15:644."

Inspector David Parr, of Dorset Police, said: "Nick left the area unexpectedly and has not been in contact with family or friends, which is out of character.

"I would urge anyone who has seen Nick, or a man matching the description given, to please contact Dorset Police. We are desperate to find him and if you have seen anything at all that could help us please call 101 and quote the case number 15:644."

The 63-year-old is said to have left the area in a silver Nissan Navara truck with the registration number YE71 DFA. He had a brown and white Springer Spaniel dog with him at the time.

Mr Fisher is described as being 5ft 9in tall and of medium build with sandy coloured hair and tattoos on both arms.