Search for missing man James Miller continues six months on

It was around 11pm on Thursday, December 22, and the 37-year-old headed out into the wintery night wearing only a white t-shirt, grey joggers and blue trainers.

He did not take his phone, identification or cigarettes or any cash.

Moments later, James was captured on a CCTV camera walking in the direction of Carol Street.

The beloved dad, son, brother and uncle has not been seen since.

Six months on, his devastated family are still searching and hoping that they will be reunited.

Now, they have renewed their plea for him to come home.

The fun-loving mechanic hit hard by lockdown

In the months leading up to the festive period, James had been struggling with his mental health.

As with many of us, the pressures of Covid-19 and the resulting lockdowns had hit him hard and he had moved back in with his mum.

On the evening of his disappearance, he walked out of the house after an argument.

The following morning, he had still not returned and the Miller family informed the police – instantly becoming concerned at this out of character behaviour.

James’ sister Emma said: “With Covid and the lockdowns it’s not been good for anyone’s mental health, but especially not for James.

“He was a key worker and he was going to work and coming home and going to work and coming home, I think it just got too much for him.

“Normally if anything ever happened, he would come to me or our grandparents as we live round the corner.

“We’re lucky that we’ve got a very supportive family, and we’re all there for one another.

“He’s normally just a fun-loving guy who gets on with everyone – he’s a character.

“If he walks into the pub, everyone knows him."

The missed celebrations

Despite a widespread appeal for information on his whereabouts, Christmas passed and there was still no news.

In January, James’ 38th birthday passed and there was still no news.

Last month, the mechanic's beloved Bolton Wanderers were promoted back to League One – still there was no news.

His bank account has not been used in the past half a year, and there has not been a single confirmed sighting.

Some reports had placed James – a regular at Warrington Wolves games – among the homeless community in Manchester, but these were never verified.

Searches along the Mersey and in areas such as Victoria Park, including the use of sonar technology and drones, have proved fruitless.

"I was out there looking for him on Christmas Day," Emma said.

“It’s been the fastest but longest six months, it's been a whirlwind.

“You just don’t know what to think and there are so many mixed emotions between us all.

“One part of you just wants to be out looking 24/7 and it’s always on your mind, every minute of every day.

“But we’ve also got to get on with things – that’s the hardest thing, trying to live your life without answers, and we have no answers.

"All we have is the CCTV image of him on the night and that’s it, there has been nothing else.

“We haven’t got a body yet, and that gives us hope – if he’d have done the worst, we would have had a body.

“He’s not in any trouble at all – we all just love him and miss him and we want him to come home, no questions asked.

"Just let someone know you're safe.

“All the kids are missing him – his daughter, his nieces and his nephews.

“It’s been very quiet without him."

The community's response

During the worst time of their lives, James’ family have been able to rely on the support of the people of Warrington.

As has so often been the case, adversity brought the best out of our town.

Thousands of residents have joined efforts to find him and plastered posters bearing his face in every corner.

Emma added: “We’ve got so many good people supporting us up and down the country.

“I’ve met so many amazing, caring people – it really restores your faith in humanity.

“I never knew that so many people could be so nice.

"Everyone has been brilliant, complete strangers who don't know us.

“The main focus is on keeping his face out there.

“Everyone will know who James is and he’ll hate us for that, but it just takes one person to notice him."

The police search

Cheshire Police say they are continuing to provide support to the family, and have 'followed up numerous reported sightings'.

Detective inspector Helen Clegg said: “Despite the number of enquiries we have received since he went missing, James’s whereabouts are still not established.

“Officers are continuing to act on any reports which could lead to James being found, and he still remains a missing person.

“We have maintained regular contact with his family and supported them in their quest to find their much loved dad, brother and son.

"The past six months have been a long and difficult time for them, and my thoughts continue to be with them as each day passes.

“We are still appealing for anyone who has any new information relevant to James’s disappearance and not yet reported it to police to please do so.

“We also want to take this opportunity to thank members of the public who have continued to do all they can to raise awareness of James’s disappearance and provide support and hope to his family.”

James Miller is described as being 5ft8 and of a medium build with ‘bright blue eyes and a ‘distinctive’ scar on the side of his head.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Cheshire Police on 101, quoting incident number IML880492.