The brother of a man who went missing from his home in Chiswick over eight years ago has made an emotional appeal for news to his whereabouts, reports the National Missing Persons Helpline (NMPH) charity.

Turlough McGowan, now 66, was last seen on the 27th February 1996 at his home in Priory Avenue. It's suggested that Turlough was then in the Kilburn area in 2001, but has not made contact with family or friends.

Concern is growing for Dublin-born Turlough who had been feeling down prior to going missing. He had normally been in contact with friends on a regular basis and appeared to take little with him when he disappeared.

Now Turlough's brother Frank based in Wicklow, Ireland has joined the search and has made an appeal via NMPH - the charity that has been looking for Turlough since 1996.

Frank, who has important news to tell Turlough, says: "What I would like to say is whatever might have prompted Turlough to go is not important anymore and we would be delighted just to have him back in the family once again."

The uncertainty about him is a constant source of anguish. If he still wants to remain apart perhaps he would make contact at least to let us know he is well and is coping. But we would obviously prefer to have him back among us."

Turlough is Irish, 5'9" tall, slim to medium build, with short grey hair and at the time of his disappearance, had a beard. Turlough has blue eyes, a reddish complexion, wears glasses and suffers from psoriasis particularly on his hands and face.

Anyone with news to Turlough's whereabouts is urged to call the confidential National Missing Persons Helpline on Freephone 0500 700 700.