A LARGE police hunt has been launched after a father-of-two went missing with a shotgun.

Stephen Hards has not been seen since he walked out of the family home at Dunkirk, near Faversham, following a domestic dispute on Monday of last week.

Police, who were alerted the following morning, combed nearby woods in the search for 43-year-old Mr Hards, who lives at Foresters Lodge Farmhouse with his wife, Teresa, and their two daughters. The family are said to be devastated at his disappearance.

Officers set up an incident room in the adjacent farmyard and called in dog handlers and police patrols while helicopters using thermal-imaging cameras scoured the woods from the air.

A police spokeswoman said there was growing concern for the welfare of Mr Hards and added: "The investigation into his whereabouts is still ongoing. Anyone who has any information that may help police is asked to contact Sittingbourne police station on 01795 477055."

She said the police were satisfied there was no threat to the public, and they were hopeful Mr Hards would be found safe and well.

The Hards family moved to the four-bedroom former farmhouse from their former home at Honey Hill, Blean, about a year ago.