THE daughters of a missing Stockton man have issued an emotional plea for their father to return home.

David Welsh has not been seen for more than a week after failing to return home after drinking in Stockton town centre.

The 61-year-old had been socialising in in the Royal Oak and The Don Bar on Silver Street before he was seen on CCTV cameras walking past the Castlegate Shopping Centre car park on Tower Street, Stockton, at 7.58pm on Tuesday, December 8.

His daughters, Lindsey Cattermole and Tracy Robinson, have now issued a statement through Cleveland Police pleading for him to return home.

They said: "Dad, if you’re watching this we just want you to know how much you are loved.

"We have been out searching for you every day and night, not just us but all of the family. We won’t stop until we’ve found you.

"We just need you home dad, and whatever we can possibly do to help you through this we will. Don’t ever think we would be better off without you. We are heartbroken; we just need you home dad.”

Detective Inspector Glen Westmoreland, who is leading the investigation, said it was completely out of character for the grandfather of seven to not be in contact with the family.

"The family are heartbroken and devastated by his disappearance," he said. "It is completely out of character for David to go missing and we are doing everything we can to trace him. We are scouring CCTV footage as we attempt to locate him."

Mr Welsh is described as a white male, around 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build and with short, grey hair. He was wearing light coloured jeans and a black waterproof jacket when he went missing.

DI Westmoreland added: “I’d like to make a direct appeal to David to contact his family or call the police to let us know he is safe. I am highly concerned that he has not been seen since Tuesday, December 8 and his family are obviously really worried.

“At the time of his disappearance, we know from speaking to his family that David had been feeling low and may not have been in his usual state of mind."

Anyone who may have seen him or anyone who may know of his whereabouts is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101.