BLOWING winds have again grounded helicopters searching the mountains for British actor Julian Sands and delayed a high-tech effort to identify him.

Sands, 65, went missing two weeks ago while hiking in the Baldy Bowl area CaliforniaSan Gabriel Peaks.

Air and ground searches were hampered by bad weather.

But rescuers hoped to locate him using technology that can detect electronic devices and credit cards.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department tweeted: “California Highway Patrol – Valley Ops Aviation Unit from Auburn, California is currently assisting us in the search using the Recco device.

“Recco technology can detect Recco reflective material, electronics and in some cases credit cards.

“We hope this can identify an area where we can focus our search efforts.”

Sands’ family praised the “heroic” search and said they were “deeply touched” by the outpouring of support they had received.

Yorkshire– born Piaski, father of three children, moved to the village Los Angeles in 2020.

His breakthrough role came in the period drama Room with a View, in which he starred opposite Helena Bonham Carterthough he later moved into the horror genre, appearing in films such as The Warlock and Arachnophobia.

Most recently, he played the main doctor in 2021 Jack Lowden and Peter Capaldi-drama “Blessing”.

From 1984 to 1987, Sands was married to the future editor of the Evening Standard and Today, Sarah Sands, with whom he has a son.

He also has two daughters from journalist Yevgenia Titkovits, whom he married in 1990.