THE distraught family of a Burnley man missing for a month have made a desperate appeal for information.

Geoffrey Benton, 42, of Wycoller Avenue, has not been seen since visiting a newsagents in Lyndhurst Avenue early on Friday October 3.

Detectives said they were particularly worried about “vulnerable” Mr Benton as he is epileptic and he had discharged himself from Royal Blackburn Hospital just days before he went missing.

Yesterday ((FRI)), Mr Benton’s father, David, and brother, David Jnr, made a desperate appeal at Burnley police station.

They said Mr Benton’s learning difficulties meant he would not be able to use a phone to contact family.

David Snr said the month without his vulnerable son had been a “terrible” experience.

And David Jnr added: “My dad is very concerned about it.

“Since he lost my mother last year Geoffrey has been like his only companion.

“We all miss him and we think that if people see him in town they might see him with his hood up and talking to himself.

“When I am out and about I am looking out for Geoffrey everywhere I go and even on TV when I watch Burnley games.

“We miss him very much and we want him back.”

David Jnr: “Geoffrey is a loner and he always has been.

“He walks with a stoop and he follows a routine from day to day.”

Mr Benton, who is also an avid Burnley FC fan, bought a newspaper each day before breakfast before heading into Burnley town centre to visit a cafe near the bus station and to look in shops.

Since the disappearance, officers have widened the search across East Lancashire to Blackburn and Accrington, where Mr Benton often went shopping.

But, despite a month of appeals, no sightings have been reported.

Detective Constable Phil Pilkington, from Burnley CID, said: “Geoffrey was clean-shaven when he was last seen so there’s every likelihood that he’s currently sporting a beard or growth.”

He said police were concerned as Mr Benton apparently had no medication with him when he went missing.

Mr Benton is white, 5ft 5ins tall, stocky, with short dark wavy hair, and speaks with a North West accent. He was last seen wearing a black and white checked shirt, grey trousers, black shoes, and could have been wearing a navy zip-up kagoul and carrying a money pouch.

Anyone with information should contact Burnley police on 01282 425001.