A FRAIL grandfather from Stanley was this week anxiously awaiting word from his son who went missing four months ago after he abducted his daughter from Switzerland.

Steven King, 41, who disappeared with his daughter Anna Leorah on December 16, is believed to be in the Stanley area

Michael Letts, the solicitor acting for the girl's mother Bat-Sheva King Hobara, said Mr King's father, whom he did not wish to name, was ill with worry over his son.

Mr Letts said: "He is distraught about what has happened and says he has not heard from his son since last year.

"Mr King has had his post redirected to his father's address in Stanley, but has not made any contact to pick it up."

Earlier this week Judge Christopher Tyrer, sitting in the High Court in London, took the unusual step of setting aside confidentiality to make a direct appeal to Mr King.

Mr King, a translator, married his Israel-born wife in April 1998 just days before Anna was born.

Anna, who has not been away from her mother's care for any length of time, suffers from an inherited skin complaint which requires treatment.

Mr Letts said: "This appeal is a last resort. We have followed up on some names of friends in the Stanley area, but without success.

"We were going to subpoena his father to appear in court in London, where he would have had to give evidence under oath, but because of his age and infirmity decided not to.

"Instead we sent him a questionnaire, which was completed by his solicitor."

Mr Letts said Mr King was suffering from depression and was taking medication at the time he disappeared.

He said: "If Mr King is reading this we would urge him to get in touch with us, or even The Advertiser, just to let us know in the first instance that Anna is safe."

Mr Letts can be contacted on 020 7203 5000 or 07747 637 890.