THE devastated family and friends of a Newport man who went missing almost two weeks ago yesterday launched a campaign calling on the public to help find him.

Family and friends of John ‘Baz’ Barrington, 42, of Worcester Crescent, St Julians, have put up hundreds of posters in the city asking people to help them with their desperate search.

Mr Barrington was last seen on April 30 when he was supposed to meet up with a friend for a day trip to the seaside but after not showing up – something totally out of character – and with no news from him since, his family and friends say they are worried sick.

Mr Barrington’s mother Ann said: “It is so unlike him.

“I just want him to come home or to let us know he is all right. We are all so worried about him.”

Mrs Barrington last saw her son on the morning of April 30, but at around 9.30am she went into the main room of the house and realised he had left.

Mr Barrington, who worked as a parttime window cleaner in the area, had previously arranged to meet his two best friends Lawson Richards and Jason Mee to go on a day trip to Weston- Super-Mare. He was due to meet Mr Richards at 10.45am in Morden Road but didn’t turn up.

When Mr Richards tried to call his mobile phone it was switched off. He went back to Mr Barrington’s home as well as to Newport train station where the friends were due to meet and even over to Weston- Super-Mare but there was no sign.

Mr Barrington was seen by Mr Mee’s mum, Delvine, at around 10.30am on Caerleon Road but that is the last reported sighting of him.

Despite Mr Barrington’s family calling his mobile throughout Saturday April 30 and Sunday May 1, there was no answer leading to them reporting him missing to the police on the Sunday evening.

Mr Barrington’s sister, Andrea, 43, said: “We just don’t know what to think about what has happened to him. Someone must have seen him since April 30 and must know something.”

Mr Barrington is described as six feet tall, slim, with short brown hair.

He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a royal blue jacket with white stripes, a blue top and trainers.

He has a tattoo of Batman on his upper right arm and one of Mickey Mouse on his upper left arm.

Anyone with any information is asked to call Gwent Police on 01633 838111.

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Family’s pain

WE can fully understand the desperation of the Barrington family from Newport, who are using all the tools at their disposal to try to track down their missing son.

For Mr Barrington to have gone missing is completely out of character.

But he has now not been seen for almost two weeks.

Mr Barrington was supposed to meet up with friends for a day trip to Weston-Super-Mare on April 30. He left home as expected but failed to meet his pals and has not been seen or heard of since.

His family are absolutely desperate to find out where he is and we are happy to help give publicity to their appeal.

They have placed posters around the city in the hope that the photographs of him will job someone’s memory.

If anyone has any idea where Mr Barrington may be, or can remember seeing him at any point over the past two weeks, we urge you to please contact Gwent Police.