by Alan Quick

AN appeal has been launched to help fund the search in Thailand of missing Crediton man, Martin Wood.

Martin Wood (48) was last seen leaving the Dream Boutique Hotel, Petcharburi, 76120 Cha-am, Thailand by hotel staff, not at around 5am on December 30 as was first believed but at 5.38pm in the evening of December 30, according to the hotel CCTV.

Martin has not been heard from since and did not catch his flight home, which was due to return on Friday, January 12.

A friend of Martin’s, Paul Stevens, and the Wood family, have set up the on-line fundraising appeal.

Paul explained on Friday: "Martin is my best mate we were best man at each others wedding.

"He failed to arrive home on his flight today and this I believe is day 13.

"We have seen CCTV of Martin at 5.38 in the evening not the morning as previously reported.

"We have a private investigator looking for him and the UK Police and Interpol are also involved.

"Posters have been put up in Cha-am offering a reward for information.

"It is very important we can fund what we need to do, and hopefully we can piece together his direction of travel, etc.

"I really hope people will donate to the fund so that we can do all we can to find him. Myself and the Wood family would be very grateful."

The Lucie Blackman Trust, which supports British victims overseas, issued an appeal on its website and on social media a few days after Martin went missing.

The Trust says Martin is 5ft 10 ins tall, of medium build, with thinning mousey brown hair and blue eyes.

He was said to have last been seen wearing shorts and a t-shirt.

The Trust asks that if anyone has any information, to please get in touch.

From the UK you can telephone the central Freephone information line on 0800 098 8485. Calls are free from landlines but may be charged from mobile telephones.

HOW TO DONATE

From overseas you can call +44800 098 8485 but this will incur costs. The trust advises that people please check before calling.

Alternatively, you can email any information to [email protected] and it said that all information is treated in the strictest confidence by the Trust.

It is hoped that more than £2,000 can be raised through the appeal and donations, to-date, stand at more than £570.

If you can help with a donation, visit the website: https://www.gofundme.com/search-for-martin .