Fresh appeal for missing former Standish High pupil James Hodgkiss

James Hodgkiss, who previously lived in Wigan and attended Standish Community High, has been missing for two years. His family have made a fresh appeal for him to come home

Father-of-three James Hodgkiss disappeared two years ago after being seen wheeling a black hand-luggage bag towards Bolton town centre.

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James attended Standish Community High and previously lived with his mother in Wigan but was living with his dad in Blackrod when he disappeared.

Devastated Christine Hodgkiss has urged him to return. The family described their lives as "disjointed" without him, and said his three young children are lost without him.

A member of the public last saw James, now aged 36, in Weston Street, Great Lever, at 11am on Wednesday, August 3, 2016.

In a renewed and direct appeal to James, mum Christine said: “Get in contact. “Even if you cannot or you feel you are not ready to come home yet, just try and contact us to let us know that you are safe and you are well because none of us are working properly. We are disjointed.

“He needs to be here.”

Christine last saw her son on August 2, 2016, when she dropped him off at his father’s home in Blackrod.

She said she thinks about him every single day.

“It is horrendous. For me personally, I am thinking about him every day”, she said. “It is bad enough for the adults, for myself, his dad and Jenny, his ex-partner.

“But his children are devastated, completely and utterly devastated.”

James has two sons, aged 12 and 17, and a 14-year-old daughter, who he last saw on August 2.

Christine, who now lives in Anderton, Chorley, described how James has missed two Christmases, several birthdays and other special occasions, as well as the day-to-day happenings that the children want to share with him.

She said: “How do you explain it to them? What do you say to these children who are having birthdays and wanting their dad there?

“His daughter is learning the violin and has been doing brilliantly. She has only been learning for 12 months. It is so sad because she is getting all these gold stars. I’m over the moon and her mum is over the moon, but the person she really really wants there is her dad.

“His eldest boy enjoys fishing. They used to go together. The youngest one wants to act. He used to take him to places. These are the things he needs to do. His daughter is turning into a young lady and he is missing it.” She added: “There are four names and numbers to call. Phone any one of those names. Phone the police. Just contact anybody.

“I love you James.”