THE family of a missing man whose car was found near Worcester have spoken of the difficult Christmas and New Year without their loved one.

While other families were busy opening presents or welcoming in the dawning of 2017, the family of Stephen Woolley were hoping to hear news of the whereabouts of the father-of-two.

It has been a month now since the 55-year-old was last seen on Tuesday, December 6 when he went to bed at around 10.15pm at his home in Kidderminster.

In the early hours of the following morning, wife Carol reported him missing.

Several days later, officers searching for Mr Woolley discovered his silver Vauxhall Zafira parked in Holt Fleet, near Worcester, on Friday, December 9 leading his family to believe he may be in a rural location.

Despite search parties and multiple appeals from the family, there have been no positive sightings of him.

The family said New Year's Eve signalled "the end of a terrible year for our family and with Steve still missing a sad start to a new one" while Christmas was spent feeling an emptiness that "words cannot describe".

Mrs Woolley said: "Christmas and New Year were a difficult time for the family, the uncertainty as to what has happened to Steve always in our thoughts at what should have been a happy family time together.

"Steve went missing on December 6 and since his car was found on December 9 we have had no luck in tracing his whereabouts.

"We have made fresh appeals on local radio and television and continue our social media campaign on Facebook and Twitter.

"We urge everyone to keep looking if they are out walking along the river or canals or in the surrounding countryside, we believe it is more likely he would stay rural than go into town and that is why we have had no positive sightings.

"Please ring 101 so that the police can follow up any leads as soon as possible.

"Your information might be the turning point we need to find Steve and bring him home safely."

He is believed to be wearing a dark coat, black jeans and grey knitted hat but had no rucksack or bag.

He is described as white, around 5ft6, with short dark hair and a short grey beard.

Mr Woolley had been battling depression and it has been a month since he last took any medication.

Anyone with information should call the non-emergency police number on 101. Alternatively, information can be passed on to the Missing People Charity on 116 000.