THE desperate family of a missing Bolton man today send him an impassioned plea: "Please contact us."

It is a month since Arthur Clowes, 56, disappeared from his Slack Fold Lane home after telling his wife Irene he was just nipping to a post office a couple of hundred yards from the house.

But the former caretaker, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, never returned. There has only been one reported sighting of him in Bolton, the day after his disappearance.

Now his worried son, Stuart, and Irene, his wife of 35 years, are urging the loving family man to get in touch, amid concerns that he may have suffered a memory lapse due to his illness.

Mrs Clowes told of the strain the family have been placed under since her husband's mystery disappearance on July 11.

The 54-year-old woman said: "It's just been terrible. I have lost two stone because of the stress. Trying to do normal things like watching the television just doesn't work, it just washes over you."

Mrs Clowes revealed that her husband had only been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease two years ago, after he had been mugged.

After visiting a doctor, concerned that shaking was due to nerves following the attack, he learned he was in the early stages of the disease.

Stuart, 26, who works as a customer care assistant, last night pleaded with his father to contact them to allay their fears.

He added: "We just want him to contact us and let us know he is okay. We want him to come home. We're just trying to keep going and keep busy but there's a real strain on us."

Their urgent plea came as Bolton police bosses confirmed that fears were growing for Mr Clowes's safety.

Chief Insp Alan Green said: "Even if he does not want to go home, we would like him to contact us or his family so we know he is safe."

Mr Clowes walks with a limp and uses a walking stick. He is medium build and height with blue eyes, a northern accent and a scar under his chin.

He was wearing a brown and grey jacket, black trousers, green and grey shirt and a beige baseball cap.

Anyone who may have spotted him is urged to contact 0161 856 5602.