THE daughters of a man missing for more than two weeks say they are lost without their father.

Darren Waller has not been seen by family or friends since about 5.30pm on Sunday, January 9.

In front of the media at Hartlepool Police Station yesterday, his former wife, Lisa Gleaves, and daughter Kayleigh Waller made a tearful appeal for him to contact them.

The 36-year-old Hartlepool man also has two other daughters – Ellie, eight, and Leah, five.

“Dad, I really, really miss you.

I need you here helping me,” said Kayleigh.

“Me, Ellie and Leah are absolutely lost without you. We love you millions please come home.”

Mr Waller was last seen at his mother’s address in the Rossmere area of the town.

Police are trying to trace him but, apart from an unconfirmed report of a sighting on January 19, between 3.30pm and 4pm in York Road, there has been nothing to suggest what has happened.

Miss Gleaves said: “Daz please come home. We want you to come home, but if you don’t want to then that’s fine, but at least let someone know that you’re okay.

“The girls miss and love you so much, they can’t live without you. They ask me every day where you are.

“You know you can talk to me and tell me anything.

“We are doing everything possible to try to find you and we won’t give up.

“Everyone is worried about you, please get in touch.”

Police are increasingly concerned because of the length of time Mr Waller has been missing, and because it is out of character.

Detective Inspector Anne- Marie Salwey said: “We want to make sure he is safe and well and confirm his whereabouts.

“He generally has contact with his family, especially his three children, on a daily basis.

“We are keeping an open mind at the moment but we urge him to get in touch.”

When Mr Waller was last seen, he was wearing a light blue sweater with dark stripes across the chest, dark blue jeans, white trainers and had an earring in his left ear.

He is 5ft 8in, white, with a shaved head and tattoos on his hands and arms.

Anyone with information about Mr Waller’s whereabouts is asked to call police on 01642-326326.