THE family of a missing Burnley grandad have made an emotional plea for him to come home.

Fears are growing for the safety of William Jones, 82, who has not been seen for almost four days.

Police have launched a major search for the grandad-of-three using the force helicopter, dog handlers and officers on foot.

Mr Jones, known as Bill, was last seen leaving his home in Venice Avenue at around 11.30am on Thursday.

His disappearance has left his wife of 52 years, Mary Jones, distraught.

Mrs Jones, 74, said: “I just want people to tell him to come home because I miss him very much. We do everything together.

“I’m that worried I can’t get to bed at night. We all are.

“His granddaughters are devastated; they always come and see him each week.

“We’re all so worried and now we are starting to fear the worst.”

Mrs Jones said she and her husband had a disagreement before he left the house after their freezer broke down.

She said: “We never argue - he just goes for a walk. That’s what he does, he walks it off.

“He didn’t take his wallet or his bus pass and he didn’t take his glasses or his hearing aid.

“It’s been raining and if he is out he will be cold. He hates the cold and he wears a jumper even in summer.

“He knows the area so well he couldn’t get lost and he’s got all his faculties. He is very healthy.”

A train driver for nearly 50 years, Mr Jones worked in Burnley, Blackburn, Blackpool and Settle.

He and his wife, a former Dorma Beds examiner, from Durham, have lived in Vincent Avenue for 47 years.

The couple’s three sons, Tony, 55, Garry, 53, and Dereck, 51, have been scouring East Lancashire for their dad.

Tony said they had also checked with their uncle Arthur, who lives in Clowbridge.

Mr Jones and his brother grew up in the village and he occasionally walks there from his home.

Tony, of Hart Street, Burnley, said: “When he left he didn’t say where he was going.

“Normally he will walk down to the shops here or down Accrington Road to pick up the Telegraph. But he goes for long walks sometimes.

“You name a place and we’ve been there to look for him.

“His brother hasn’t seen him and neither has anybody else. Everybody around that area knows him.

“We haven’t a clue where he is – we’ve rung everybody.”

Police knocked on every door in the street on Saturday to see if Mr Jones’ neighbours had any clues about where he could be.

Tony said: “A lady at the end of the street saw him walking up the road and two people said they saw him at a bus stop, which is not like my dad because he would rather walk than catch a bus.

“It’s getting to the stage now, the length of time, that we’re starting to get more and more worried as each hour goes by. We don’t know what to think.

“I just want my dad to come home safe and sound."

Mr Jones is white, about 5ft 6ins tall with receding grey hair and has distinctive scarring around his eyes, particularly his right eye, which he sustained in a motorbike accident some years ago.

He was last seen wearing a black baseball cap, light blue jumper, grey trousers and a navy blue jacket with brown shoes.

A police spokesman said: “His family are extremely worried about his welfare as this is very much out of character for him and are urging him, if he sees or hears this appeal to make contact with them or police.

“We would urge anyone who thinks they may have seen him to come forward and contact us as soon as possible on 08451 25 35 45.”