A sister has shared a heartbreaking message to her brother, who remains missing days after telling his family he was getting the bus home.
Matthew Dillon, 46, was last seen leaving his home address in Armitage Gardens, Mossley Hill on Monday, January 2. As he went to leave the house, his dad asked him where he was going - to which he replied "it's a nice day, I might go to Southport".
His dad asked him to message later on to let him know when he would be home, and he left the property wearing a blue anorak, cargo trousers and carrying a cross-shoulder messenger bag. Merseyside Police described Mr Dillon as white, of large build, with short, blondie red hair, and wearing glasses.
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Matthew's younger sister, Lizzy Hankinson, 37, told The ECHO her brother left the home in his "usual manner".
She said: "He said goodbye to my dad, so he asked where he was going. He said 'it's a nice day, I might go to Southport' and my dad told him to message later. We don't know if he did end up going to Southport.
"My dad didn't hear anything from him, which is normal for Matthew as he just gets on with things, so he messaged to ask him when he would be home on Whatsapp.
"My dad messaged to ask if it would be 9.30pm or 10.30pm and he replied to say he would be home at 10.30pm if the 80A bus turned up on time. My dad messaged to say okay and take care on the bus home and he read that message at 10.29pm."
Matthew's dad messaged him again at 10.50pm as he hadn't arrived back at home yet, but the messages were not delivered on Whatsapp. The family reported him missing and Merseyside Police has now issued an appeal for him.
Lizzy said added that it was "completely out of character for him to do this". The family belive he was getting on the 80A bus from Liverpool City Centre to Booker Avenue south Liverpool.
She said: "He may have been to Southport before, Matthew is really interested in his craft beer and he also likes to travel by train. If he ever goes on holiday abroad he will fly into one place and city hop by train.
"Police have requested the CCTV from Arriva, which we are expecting in the next couple of days and a man got in touch with us to say he was printing posters which will be distributed by the weekend. It's really hard [Matthew being missing], my younger brother and his wife don't live in Liverpool, they live in Leicester so have travelled here so we are together.
"It's really comforting that there are so many people sharing the appeal and post. There are so many people looking for him and who want him home. His friends have been visiting all of his favourite pubs to look for him."
When asked what message she would like to give to her brother, Lizzy said: "Just come home, just let somebody know you are okay at least. Whether that's going to a going to a police station or a hospital, whatever you see fit. Get a message to us."
The family are pleading with anyone who was in Liverpool City Centre on Monday night and saw anything, no matter how small they think it is, to get in touch with @MerPolCC, call 101 or report sightings via: https://www.merseyside.police.uk/ro/report/mp/v2/report-sighting-of-missing-person-form/
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