Matthew Gill: Family of missing Stourbridge man make emotional plea

Matthew Gill, 43, from Stourbridge, has been missing since leaving his home at 9am on October 6.

In an emotional plea for him to come home his cousin has spoke of the 'overwhelming' support from the general public.

Wolverhampton Wanderers and Stourbridge MP Margot James have been among those to have shared the appeal online.

In the fresh appeal, Louise Flanagan, 40, from Stourbridge, said: "Matt please, please let somebody know that you are ok, we would love you to come home.

"Everybody's worried sick, if you need some time out just let somebody know that you're safe, but just come home."

Of the public response she said: "Its been overwhelming - yesterday morning a lady turned up with her very young baby and she doesn't know anyone in the family.

"It's just overwhelming we have had so many people turn up who don't know us.

"The donations we have been receiving for posters, we have had 1,000s of poster put out already.

"Matt was not even on social media this is why we're getting the posters everywhere."

"Margot James has tweeted, Peters Hill School have distributed the poster to all the parents of the students via email."

Teams have been dispersed to search through the Million wood area of Kinver.

Family and close friends have searched through the woodland - an area Mr Gill used to go cycling on his mountain bike.

Colleagues from B&Q in Kidderminster, where Mr Gill works as part of the management team, have been helping with the appeal and distributing posters nationwide.

Partner Annette Woodhouse, who lived with Mr Gill, has also been searching.

Ms Flanagan said: "Because it's been a week, it's hit her hard today.

"She's had to come off social media because we have just been inundated with messages.

"There's family out, there's cousins out, close friends.

"It's just been on-going but has been quite hard, there's no clues to follow.

"It's completely out the ordinary.

"The police and rescue team are still here, we're hoping to get a big response over the weekend.

"The search is going to continue we just need to widen the search now.

"A few things have come in where there's been possible sightings.

"It's an emotional rollercoaster, we get false hope."

Matthew is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall, medium build, clean shaven with short cropped hair.

It’s possible he was wearing a white baseball cap, tracksuit bottoms and grey slip on trainers.

Anybody with information is urged to contact West Midlands Police Locate team on 101, extension 872 3053.

Those who wish to support the search can also visit the Facebook page or visit the The Fox Inn in Stourton where search parties continue to meet.