THE anguished family of a missing man have made an emotional appeal for help – six months after his disappearance.

Geoffrey Benton, 43, has not been seen since early on Friday, October 3.

Yesterday, Geoffrey’s father and brother told the Lancashire Telegraph they had not given up hope of finding him, despite no other reported sightings.

And they described how the past six months waiting for news had been the worst experience of their lives.

Geoffrey’s dad David, 77, said he hoped that his son, who has learning diffi-culties and is without his medication for epilepsy, might still be in Lanc-ashire.

Spea-king from the family’s home in Wycoller Avenue, Burnley, David said: “I think he is still out there, either in Blackburn or Preston, but I have been over to Blackburn every week since he went missing and I still cannot find him.

“I think he is still alive but you just cannot tell.”

Geoffrey disappeared after checking himself out of the Royal Black-burn Hospital on Oct-ober 2. He was later seen near Blackburn ice rink.

The following day, he was seen in a newsagent in Lyndhurst Road, Burnley the last known sighting of him.

Geoffrey is white, 5ft 5ins tall, stocky, with short dark wavy hair and he speaks with a Lancashire accent.

He was last seen wearing a black and white checked shirt, grey trousers and black shoes. He could also have been wearing a navy zip-up kagoul and carrying a money pouch, police believe.

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Phil Pilkington on 01282 472241.