THE family of a Langstone pensioner, missing since Friday, are desperately worried and appealing for help to find him.

Gwent Police mounted a search for Ronald Bowman, 74, who suffers from Dementia, after he went missing from Panteg Hospital, Griffithstown, near Pontypool at 5.45pm.

Mr Bowman’s sons Nick and Martyn are deeply concerned about him and believe he was trying to find his way home to Magor Road, Langstone where he has lived for 36 years with wife Irene.

"We are desperately worried about him," said Nick Bowman, 47.

"He doesn’t have his medication with him, nor food or money."

"Police officers have been searching the Pontypool area, including the canal and forest and we’ve been searching ourselves and there are posters up in shop windows."

"He could be trying to get home by hitching a lift to Newport possibly from the McDonalds roundabout at Pontypool."

"If anyone who was driving home on Friday night saw him or has seen someone they think is him we urge you to call the police.

Mr Bowman is described as six-feet tall, bald but with grey hair around the sides. He was wearing a white T-shirt, brown trousers, brown shoes and carrying a red washbag and was believed to have had a limp.

Anyone who may have seen him or knows of his whereabouts is asked to call Gwent Police on 101.