The extensive search effort for 87-year-old Wagin resident James Ballantyne, who has been missing for six days, was suspended on Thursday afternoon as police concede they are unlikely to find the much-loved man alive.

Mr Ballantyne, who is living with dementia, was last seen about 10.30am on Saturday when he left his home for a walk.

Family reported him missing later that afternoon, his disappearance sparking a huge six-day search that has failed to find any trace of Mr Ballantyne.

Police and State Emergency Service crews searched the Wagin townsite and kilometres of surrounding bush and farmland tirelessly for nearly a week, with efforts involving police drones, the police fixed wing aircraft, helicopter, up to 32 SES volunteers and tracker dogs brought in by the family.

Police, SES teams and a drone were still searching on Thursday morning before the operation was scaled back around noon.

Police had also attempted to use the Life360 tracking application, which they believed Mr Ballantyne had access to.

Wagin police led by officer-in-charge Acting Sergeant Edward Duffy will continue to investigate and respond to any new information, while the external search resources have now returned to their home locations.

Great Southern police Acting Inspector Craig Wasley said teams had worked to ensure every designated search area was thoroughly covered.

“We plot a search area to the best of our ability and to the SES’ ability, and we search that area to a high degree,” he said.

“So if James was there, then he would be located.

“We’ve completed the search area now.”

Sgt Wasley said Mr Ballantyne’s family were understanding of the decision to scale back the search and had ensured them that Wagin police would continue to act on any information received about his whereabouts.

“I’ve had a chat with them (the family) today and informed them that the search efforts will be reduced now and that we’ve covered our search areas,” he said.

“They are very understanding and they fully accept it.

“They accept that James being alive isn’t very likely now.

“Any information that does come in, that will be acted on as soon as possible.”

Acting Insp. Wasley said the family wanted to thank the community, police and SES volunteers for their efforts.

“They wanted me to pass on that they are very overwhelmed with the support from the community of Wagin and surrounding areas,” he said.

“They’re absolutely amazed with the efforts of the police, SES volunteers and the community.

“They just want to thank everyone and they want to stress that if anyone does have any information to bring it to us (Wagin police).”

Acting Insp. Wasley thanked the community for their efforts in the massive search operation.

“The community response to this was absolutely amazing,” he said.

“We sent out an alert via SMS to a 40-foot radius.

“The community were amazing searching outside their houses, sheds, laneways and during the search we had volunteers come and approach us and ask what they can do . . . they’re very caring.”

Police urge anyone with information to come forward or to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.