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A desperate son has begged his missing dad to come home.

It has now been more than 24 hours since Martin Cooper disappeared.

The retired English teacher left his house in Whitley Bay on Monday morning, saying he was going to put a car seat in his car.

But Martin, 63, instead drove off in the red Citroën C1, leaving the seat abandoned in the driveway.

Police are now searching for Martin, who lives with his wife Mary, 65, on Deneholm.

(Image: handout)

On Tuesday his son, Joe, pleaded with him to get in touch.

The 38-year-old said: "We all love him very much. We just want to know he's safe and we want him back."

And in a direct message to his dad, Joe added: "Just please make contact with someone."

Dad-of-three Martin taught English in various schools around the North East, including Bedlington High School and Kenton School, before he retired in 2016.

He had recently penned his first novel, which he self-published on Amazon and Kindle just two weeks ago.

Martin did not take his phone with him when he left home.

But his family has discovered his bank card was used at a service station on the Edinburgh bypass at around 1pm on Monday.

Joe says his dad is a keen walker and climber, and believes it is possible he is heading north to areas where he has enjoyed walking in the past.

"This is really out of character for him," said Joe. "We are all really worried now.

"He doesn't have any connections to Edinburgh, but we think he might have gone further north than that because that's where he loves to go walking."

(Image: handout)

Martin's family is now asking anyone who has seen him or his car, which has the registration NA58DUH, to call police

His daughter, Hannah, 35 has also taken to social media in a bid to find her dad.

On Facebook , she told how Martin had been suffering from "serious depression".

She wrote: "If you see him or the car please contact the police. He’s an avid climber and walker, but doesn’t have with him appropriate footwear, clothing or equipment."

As well as Joe and Hannah, Martin has another son called Ben, who is 28, and one grandchild.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "We can confirm we are searching for missing man Martin Cooper, 63, who was reported missing yesterday [Monday].

"He was last seen in the Deneholm area of Whitley Bay shortly before 9am but has not been seen since.

"Enquiries are ongoing to locate him. Martin, or anyone with information about his whereabouts, is asked to contact police."

Anyone with any information should call Northumbria Police on 101 quoting log 187 021219.