The wife of a man who disappeared without a trace more than five weeks ago has made a desperate plea to him, saying: "I need you, I just want you home."
Michelle Baglin has again spoken of her heartache over Peter's sudden disappearance. On the night of December 28, great-grandad Peter, 55, got up off the sofa and told his partner of 30 years Michelle that he was going for a walk and would be 'home soon'.
More than five weeks later, Peter has still not returned. In the words of his wife Michelle, it his like he has 'vanished' - a 'living nightmare' that has consumed Michelle and her family ever since.
Michelle previously told the Manchester Evening News she has been suffering sleepless nights, seeing his dressing gown and his head not on the pillow in bed next to her. She questioned: "How can you live a normal life and think about the future, when your future isn't there beside you?"
READ MORE 'My partner got up off the sofa and went for a walk. He hasn't come home'
In a new video appeal, filmed by Greater Manchester Police on the eve of National Missing Persons' Day, Michelle has again spoken of the grief her and the family are enduring each day - and her questions which have been left unanswered.
"We are like best buds - we have been together that long, we are like chalk and cheese," she said. "We have been married for over 20 years, but it doesn't seem that long. We both met each other at the right time in our lives.
"I can't get over how this has happened, when you hear about it on the TV or the papers, it's as if its someone else. I never thought I'd be here doing this at this time in my life. It's as if it's not me and somebody else, it's surreal.
"He's always enjoyed walking, but when he didn't come back... that was different."
Peter had left their Boothstown home and was last seen nearby, at the Texaco Garage on East Lancs Road, Mosley Common, at around 7.38pm on December 28. Michelle spoke to him on the phone later that evening, at around 8.15pm, where he told her he was on a walk to 'clear his head'.
He said he was going down to walk along Bridgewater Canal. She was worried, but he assured her he would 'be home soon'. He hasn't been home since.
In the days that followed, after police deployed huge search teams to the local area, trawling through woodland and with divers in the canal, a number of his belongings were found close to the embankment on Vicars Hall Lane. His hat, phone, bank cards, tobacco, house key and headphones have been recovered and are with police, but there have been no confirmed sightings of him.
Previously speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Michelle said: "It is always there in the back of your mind. Even when you try and just carry on and be normal, you can't. It's a bit like a bereavement, but there's nothing at the end of it and no answers.
"How can you live a normal life and think about the future, when your future isn't there beside you? I can't even think that far forward, I have to just take every day as it comes. I can't understand it. It's like everyday you are living a nightmare, like you're here, but you're not. I keep asking myself if I have missed anything or not picked up on any signs.
"I've thought over and over about the night he went missing. There were no signs of him letting me know he was struggling, but I would have known. I'm his best friend and he is mine."
As well as the police efforts, Michelle also organised searches of the entire stretch of the Bridgewater canal, with over 200 people attending to help. But to date, there haven’t been any results from these searches.
It was in those early days that Michelle said she had 'purpose'. "I was getting up knowing we had a job to do. We had to find him," she said.." It's becoming harder as the time goes on."
Making a direct emotional appeal to Peter, Michelle said: "I need you to come home. I don't care where you have been, I just want you home.
"I'm missing you, your family is missing you, everybody is missing you. He is loved by everyone.
"You never stop wanting and hoping. I just want him home."
Peter was last seen wearing navy coloured joggers, walking shoe type trainers and a grey Mountain Equipment hoodie with a red zip and a hat. He is described as being 5ft 10ins in height, with grey hair, and a tattoo on the left side of his neck that says 'Michelle'. He is also wearing his wedding ring.
Anyone with any information can contact GMP on 101 or through the LiveChat Function on the website, www.gmp.police.uk. If you’re unsure about coming forwards, you can also pass information on anonymously through the independent charity, Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.
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