Desperate hunt for missing father, 44, who was last seen walking towards woods in Essex after visiting family just two days before Christmas

Police have launched a desperate hunt for a man who went missing while visiting family two days before Christmas.

Marc Jones disappeared from Hockley, near Southend-on-Sea, where he was visiting relatives with his 11-year-old son.

The 44-year-old, from Marlow, Bucks, was wearing a dark, padded jacket with a furry hood alongside brown trousers and a rust-coloured top when he disappeared early in the morning nearly a week ago.

Mr Jones has a cross tattoo on his wrist, short, dark brown hair and is 5’11” tall.

Family say this is ‘completely out of character for Marc’, with the search now being conducted by both Essex and Thames Valley Police forces.

Marc Jones disappeared from Hockley, near Southend-on-Sea, where he was visiting relatives with his 11-year-old son

The 44-year-old, from Marlow, Bucks, was wearing a dark, padded jacket with a furry hood (pictured) alongside brown trousers and a rust-coloured top when he disappeared nearly a week ago

He was last seen walking towards Guide Woods, which sits on the edge of the residential town. Pictured: The road Mr Jones walked down with the woods at the end

He was last seen walking towards Guide Woods, which sits on the edge of the residential town.

Both Marlow and Hockley are being searched, both by police and a team of concerned locals coordinated through a Facebook page.

Organisers have praised the ‘heroic efforts’ of volunteers as they try to track Mr Jones down.

But they say they are ‘no closer to locating’ him as they desperately appeal for help. 

They hope that he will still be in the local vicinity, and say all the main routes through the woods have now been walked. 

Essex Police are said to have done an aerial search, and they have asked any sightings to be immediately reported to the force.

In an appeal put out on December 23, Essex Police in the Rochford District said: ‘Help us find Marc Jones, 44, missing from Hockley, 9am on Sat 23 Dec. 

‘He may still be in the locality. He’s short dark blond hair & 5ft 11ins, wearing Goose jacket and furry collar, brown jeans and rust-coloured top, black trainers and cross tattoo on wrist.’