THE FAMILY of missing Newport man, Ben Caplan have made an appeal to find him by Christmas.

Speaking to ITV Wales for the 6’o clock news yesterday evening, Mr Caplan’s sister, Lynn Davies said she couldn’t believe what had happened.

She said: “We are just desperate to get him back. It’s hard for all the family to take in what has happened.

“How do you explain to a five-year-old that you don’t know where his dad is.

“We feel like we’re living in limbo. We don’t know what to think. We’ve got to pin hope on Ben’s out there and we want him back, because if we think the worst I feel we’ll give up hope and we haven’t given up hope.”

Mr Caplan, 30, was last seen in Caerleon on Saturday December 7 after a night out with friends. He was reported missing the next day by his wife Danielle, who he lives with in Bond Street Newport, with six-month-old baby Jude and step son Evan, 5.

Mrs Caplan said she hoped the television coverage would bring some results.

Volunteers continued to carry out searches on Tuesday, with one group walking the cycle path from Newport to Caerleon and another meeting at Malpas Road, Newport to search the area.

Since his disappearance there have been a number of sightings which continue to be reported, but none have been confirmed as Mr Caplan.

Posters continue to be put up around Gwent with Magor Printers being the latest business to pledge their support by printing off a batch of posters.

The Severn Area Rescue Association have carried out numerous searches of the river Usk following reports of someone going into the river at Caerleon Bridge at around 11.45pm on Saturday.

The online social media campaign remains strong with the ‘Help Find Ben Caplan’ Facebook page attracting almost 6,000 likes and pictures and statuses being shared every day.

Mr Caplan, who works in the circulation department at the South Wales Argus, is described as white, 5’9” tall, of a slight build with shoulder length straight brown hair.

He has tattoos on both arms as well as his back and chest. He is originally from Glasgow and has a Scottish accent.

Anyone with information is urged to call Gwent Police on 101, quoting log number 295 08/12/13.