MISSING: British tourist Paul Daniel Strange, 70, has disappeared in Almería, Spain, on the very day he was scheduled to drive his van back to the UK. Street CCTV footage from 7:42 am shows his white van suddenly speeding off into an unknown lane

Desperate hunt launched for Brit who vanished in Spain on day due to travel home

Paul Daniel Strange, 70, vanished on Thursday the same day he was due to start the long drive back to the UK in his van after staying at a friend’s apartment in Almeria, Spain

Paul Strange

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Paul Strange’s family are appealing for help to find him(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

A family are appealing for a missing man who disappeared after being due to travel back to the UK from Spain.

Paul Daniel Strange, 70, vanished on Thursday the same day he was due to start the long drive back in his van from the fishing and tourist town of Palomares in Almeria to Essex where he lives.

The retired builder and locksmith, from Leigh-on-Sea, had been staying at a friend’s apartment.

And today his worried loved ones revealed police had begun a search for the pensioner as the mystery of his whereabouts deepened and they said a neighbour had seen him leaving the property.

Mr Strange disappeared as he was due to drive back to the UK

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Mr Strange disappeared as he was due to drive back to the UK(Image: SOLARPIX.COM)

But a friend who then let himself into the apartment after Paul went missing found belongings of his including a computer and clothes inside.