POLICE are appealing for the public's help to trace a 49-year-old Wirral man who has been missing from his home in Birkenhead since the early hours of Wednesday morning.

John Alexander Neil was last seen by his family at their home on Deakin Street, Birkenhead on the night of Tuesday, April 28.

He is believed to have left the house in the early hours of Wednesday and the last confirmed sighting of John is on CCTV at the Co-operative Stores on Hoylake Road at around 6.15am that day.

At around 8.50am on Wednesday, he was reported as missing to police by his family and since then officers have been working hard to try to find where he is.

John is described as white, 6ft 3in tall and of a medium build.  He has fair hair with blue eyes.

When he was last seen he was wearing a black Hugo Boss jacket and a dark blue Hugo Boss cap. 

Under the jacket, he had a blue hoody with "EA7" on the front and a white t-shirt underneath that. 

He was also wearing blue Adidas tracksuit bottoms and blue trainers with red socks.

Wirral Globe:

CCTV footage shows John at the Co-operative Stores on Hoylake Road at around 6.15am on Wednesday.

He is believed to have been carrying two red drawstring bags over his shoulder, both of which appeared to be full, possibly with clothing.

Superintendent Richie Davies said: "John has never gone missing before and his family and friends are now becoming increasingly concerned about his welfare.

"We are carrying out extensive inquiries to find him and, as part of the investigation, we have issued John's photo along with CCTV stills from the last confirmed sighting of him in Birkenhead early on Wednesday.

"His family really need to know he is safe and well and I would appeal to anyone who has seen John or someone resembling him to get in touch with us.

"I would also urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact officers as soon as possible."

Anyone with information should call officers in Wirral via the 101 number or the Missing People's charity on 116000.