A MAN who sparked a major hunt after his car was found 100ft down a ravine is being quizzed by police today.

Mystery surrounds the actions of Eric Spalding who was nowhere to be seen when his red saloon was found at the bottom of a gorge off an unclassified road in Rhos-y-gwaliau, near Bala, in North Wales on Tuesday morning.

A search using police helicopters and rescue dogs was instigated after the 55-year-old Herefordshire man's wrecked car was found with what was believed to be bloodstains in it.

After the incident, Mr Spalding hired a car, a Fiat Punto, from Bala, and was discovered in it by police yesterday - driving on a road a few miles away from where he went missing.

Police said the Bromyard man was not in need of any immediate medical treatment, but they took him to Dolgellau police station to ask him about his movements since the alarm was raised, more than 24 hours earlier.

"He was questioned before going to hospital for minor medical treatment," said a North Wales police spokesman. "He was taken back to Dolgellau police station earlier today for more questioning."

His mother, Jessie, who is also from Herefordshire, revealed he had disappeared from his home.