Search for 18 people missing in West Midlands over Christmas

While Christmas is a time known for good cheer, celebration and family, for many it is a difficult time of year.

And that includes the people – around a million people – who are affected each year by the disappearance of a loved one or family member.

THE Missing people a charity supports people whose loved ones have disappeared or who have themselves felt the need to disappear.

They report sightings, help launch appeals for information and also post photos and profiles of missing people from all parts of the UK, with a drop-down menu allowing users to specify an area.

Currently they have listed 37 people from the West Midlands region on their website.

They include:

Alan Murray, missing from Birmingham since April 15, 2010 and was 63 years old when last seen.

Michael Perkins, missing from Stourbridge since June 1, 2002, and was 55 years old at the time of his disappearance.

Andrew Dill, reported missing from Birmingham on May 20, 2003 and has not been seen since.

Phillip Harris from Sandwell Valley, reported missing on July 28, 1999 aged 15.

Terrence Potts, missing from Birmingham since November 10, 1999.

Patricia Lashley of Dudley, reported missing on September 24, 1998 aged 33,

One of the oldest missing people on the website is Maria Aldridge, who has not been seen in more than 56 years.

She disappeared from Birmingham on May 5, 1968, aged 17.

Sami Tafere, disappeared from Bilston on October 22, 2018 at the age of 16.

Stephen Hadley disappeared from Birmingham aged 26 on September 20, 2006.

Daniel Wayzel, also from Bilston, who was 17 when he went missing on October 17, 2018 and has not been seen since.

Jason Salt-Pearce, disappeared from Stafford on April 19, 2018, aged 30.

Nicholas Edmunds, who was 45 when he disappeared from Walsall on May 13, 2015.

Shafi Shaikh is listed as having disappeared from the West Midlands area on November 8, 2010, when he was 67 years old – he would now be around 81.

Brian Wafer, aged 66 when he disappeared from Wolverhampton on July 25, 1977.

Natalie Putt, who was 17 when she disappeared from Dudley on September 1, 2003.

To report a sighting on the website of a person who may be missing, you can go to https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/sightings-and-giving-information-form.

The website also gives advice on helping people who are vulnerable or who appear to be vulnerable.

He says: “If you see someone who worries you because of their behavior, or who doesn’t seem to be well, you might want to help them.

“Ask yourself if you feel safe approaching them and asking how you can help them, or can you get help for them?

“Remember to call 999 if this appears to be an emergency.”

If someone seems to be sleeping rough and you are worried about them, you can use Streetlink website to ask them for help from a local team.