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The family of a man who has been missing for more than two days have issued a heartfelt plea for him to get in touch.

Gilbert Tootle, 56, originally from Liverpool, was last seen on Wednesday, December 17 at a petrol station on Briars Lane in Burscough at around 10.20am.

The dad of two and grandad of one left his family home in Burscough earlier that day but has not made contact with them since.

His daughter Philippa Tootle-Pratt, 28, told the ECHO that all her family want is a phone call.

She said: “We are just so worried about him. He’s been in and out of work for the last few years and we fear he is suffering from depression.

“He dropped my mum Janet at work in the morning on Wednesday and when she rang him later in the afternoon to be picked up, he wasn’t answering the phone. My mum came around to my house and I went to her home with her.

“Their car was on the drive and the house was in darkness. He had taken a bag with some clothes, his passport and the police found out he had withdrawn a £100 from a cash machine but he left his cash cards at home.

“He left a note for my mum to say he was going and wasn’t coming back. This isn’t like him, we think he is struggling with financial issues. But that doesn’t matter to us, even if he doesn’t want to come home and face us, we just want him to know that we love him and he should just give us a call so we know he is safe.”

Philippa added that her brother Alex, had just arrived back from his army base in Germany, for Christmas.

She said: “Whatever’s going on, none of it matters, I just want to know that my dad is safe.”

Gilbert is described as white and around 5ft 6ins, with a stocky build, short dark brown hair and blue eyes. He is usually clean shaven, talks with a Liverpool accent and wears charity wristbands such as one for Help for Heroes.

He was seen walking on Junction Lane bridge as though in a hurry wearing dark blue pants and a dark blue fleece with a high vis vest over the top, carrying a rucksack.

PC Karen Holmes of Skelmersdale Police said: “Gilbert has been missing for more than two days now and his family and friends are becoming concerned about where he may be.

“I would urge anyone who may have seen him to get in touch or if he sees this appeal, please make contact with your family or with police to let us know that you are okay.”

Anyone with information should contact Lancashire Police on 101 quoting log number 0816 of December 17.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or go to Crimestoppers-uk.org.