THE emergency services resume their search this morning for an 82-year-old man feared dead in a “ferocious” fire that gutted his Co Down farmhouse at the weekend.

A search was called off over the weekend for the elderly man over concerns about the safety of the building in Annaclone not far from the town of Rathfriland.

The fire broke out at the farm at Ballynafern Road around 7.20 am on Saturday morning.

Three fire units raced to the scene but the building was well alight by the time they arrived at the rural property.

It is believed part of the first floor of the farmhouse collapsed making it dangerous for fire crews and police to enter the building.