Detectives launch appeal after body of cyclist David Alderson found at Wheal Maid mine works David Alderson was found dead at Wheal Maid mine works on January 18 Police first thought he may have suffered a serious cycling accident However today they announced they have launched a murder investigation Detectives have advised public to call 999 if they see Kevin Cooper, 33 A 33-year-old man is being sought in connection with the murder of a keen cyclist whose body was found abandoned in an old mine works. David Alderson, 72, from Falmouth, Cornwall, was found dead in the grounds of the works at Wheal Maid near Carharrack in Cornwall earlier this month. Officers from Devon and Cornwall police initially believed Mr Alderson may have suffered a serious cycling accident, but today they announced they have launched a murder investigation. Hunt: Murder detectives investigating the death of 72-year-old David Alderson, left, from Falmouth, Cornwall, are 'urgently seeking' Kevin Cooper, 33, from Redruth, and have advised the public to dial 999 if they see him Detectives are 'urgently seeking' Kevin Cooper, 33, from Redruth and have advised members of the public not to approach him but dial 999 if they see him. Superintendent Jim Pearce said: 'I want to reassure the public as best I can that, whilst we are advising people not to approach Mr Cooper, we have no reason to believe that there is any threat to the public in general. We have committed significant resources to finding Mr Cooper including increasing police patrols in areas he may be. A dog walker found Mr Alderson's body in the grounds of the mine works on Saturday, January 18. The dead man was wearing a blue fleece, dark Ron Hill running trousers and black Specialised Sport TR cycling shoes. He was also wearing a pair of brown gardening gloves, and a pair of spectacles was found nearby, along with a black baseball cap. Mr Cooper, described as white, 6ft 3ins, with brown, straight, receding hair and blue eyes, has been reported missing by his family. He has a tattoo of a rose and the word Nan on the right side of his neck and is missing two upper teeth. Mr Alderson, 72, was found dead in the grounds of the mine works at Wheal Maid near Carharrack in Cornwall Mr Alderson left his home address of 61 Old Hill, Falmouth, in his red Ford Fiesta Freestyle, registration RV51MZZ, some time in the early evening on Friday 17 January, police said. The car was later left abandoned Detective superintendent Paul Burgan, Major Crime Investigation Team, added: 'We also want to trace the last movements of Mr Alderson and are keen to speak to anyone who saw him in the days before his death. We now know that Mr Alderson left his home address of 61 Old Hill, Falmouth, in his red Ford Fiesta Freestyle, registration RV51MZZ, some time in the early evening on Friday 17 January. I am anxious to speak to anyone who saw this vehicle or any of its occupants that evening. We believe this vehicle was in the Carharrack area, near to Wheal Maid, on Friday evening and returned to Falmouth later that night, where it was left in North Parade.