A WORRIED daughter today pleaded with her missing father: "Please get in touch, mum is ill."

Gina Emmott's dad, Brian James Emmott, left the family home in Leicester Road, Intack, Blackburn, on June 23.

He had said he was depressed before he went.

Apart from a postcard sent from Bolton on July 11, his family has heard nothing from him since.

Gina, 25, is desperate for her dad to get in touch so she can be sure he is safe and to tell him that her mother's health is deteriorating.

Gina said: "He knew mum was sick before he went but he doesn't know that it has got worse.

"Dad's disappearance isn't making things any better for her."

Mr Emmott, 49, has left home several times before, but it has usually just been for a couple of days.

His last prolonged absence, of six weeks, was four years ago.

Gina said: "He gave up his job as a production worker at Crossfield Foods in Blackburn a couple of weeks prior to him leaving.

"He was on a downer before he left.

"If he doesn't want to come back, that's fine. He is old enough to make his own decisions.

"All I want him to do is contact me so I can let him know that mum isn't well."

Police have not got involved because Brian has been in touch with his family.

Gina added that her daughters, seven-year-old Emma and four-year-old Kelley, were missing their grandfather, a big Blackburn Rovers fan.

Frances, 53, said she had not been able to find out if her husband of 29 years was claiming benefit and feared he might be sleeping rough.

"Before he went he told us he was depressed. I don't know what to think. The worst thing is not knowing," she said.

She said Mr Emmott, who had served in the British Army and the Irish defence forces, had found it difficult adjusting to civvy street and was something of a loner.

The family has contacted Salvation Army hostels but stopped short of reporting him missing to the police as there is little they could do because he is an adult and left home of his own accord.

Mr Emmott is about 5ft 7in or 5ft 8in tall, has brown eyes and is balding. He likes to wear a baseball cap.

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