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Missing pensioner Brian Smart, from Abbey Wood, visited Dartford, Bluewater, Bexleyheath and Greenwich

The family of a missing pensioner who disappeared a year ago have reissued their appeal for information in the hope of finally finding him.

Brian Smart was last seen by his family at 7.30pm on Tuesday, September, 22, last year, and was reported missing to police the following day at around 8pm.

His family has made previous appeals for his safe return and despite an extensive police investigation with appeals in the media there has been no trace of Brian.

Brian Smart
Brian Smart

A reward of £10,000 was offered six months ago - on what would have been his 86th birthday - for any significant information that could lead to finding his current location, and this reward still remains.

Mr Smart lived in Abbey Wood but is known to frequent Dartford, Bluewater shopping centre, Bexleyheath, and Bostall Woods in Greenwich.

CCTV footage of Mr Smart at Bluewater - taken on September 21, the day before he went missing - was discovered and has previously been issued to media.

Enquiries have since established that a neighbour saw Brian at his home address at around 10am on Wednesday, September 23 but since then there has been no trace of him.

Mr Smart seen on CCTV footage at Bluewater
Mr Smart seen on CCTV footage at Bluewater

Hours of CCTV footage has been viewed and specialist resources from the dog unit and the police helicopter have been drawn upon.

Previously, images were released of a watch, a mobile phone and a jacket similar to those that Mr Smart would have had on him when he was last seen in the hope that someone may have found them discarded or possibly been offered them for sale.

These items have yet to be traced.

Detectives investigating the disappearance have exhausted all lines of inquiry and are hoping a year on that someone will be able to provide them with new information that may just progress this investigation.

A watch like Mr Smart was wearing
A watch like Mr Smart was wearing

Mr Smart's son Mark said: "A year on and we are all still unable to come to terms with the disappearance of dad. We carry on with our day-to-day lives but dad is always in our hearts and on our minds.

"We miss him dreadfully and still have no idea what happened to him. The fact that he was a lovely man who had no enemies or health problems is what makes this all so hard to cope with.

"The family are once again appealing for any information about the disappearance of Dad anything at all that could help the police with their investigation."

DCI Mike Balcombe said: "It has now been a year since Brian's disappearance and he has had no contact with his family since he went missing. His loved ones are desperate for any information which could lead to his whereabouts.

"We miss him dreadfully and still have no idea what happened to him" - son Mark

"During the time Brian has been missing, he has missed Christmas with his family and many other significant milestones. His family has been consumed by the search for him and feel their lives cannot move forward until they know what has happened.

"We have issued a number of appeals in the last 12 months but these have yielded little information.

I would appeal to anyone who has not yet spoken to us to come forward as soon as possible.

They may have a small piece of information that at the time of Brian's disappearance they thought was insignificant but actually this could prove to be a valuable piece of the puzzle to piece together what has happened to Brian."

Mr Smart was wearing a beige or cream jacket which is featured in the CCTV footage taken at Bluewater
Mr Smart was wearing a beige or cream jacket which is featured in the CCTV footage taken at Bluewater

Brian is a white man, 5ft 7inches tall and of medium build. At the time of his disappearance he was generally fit and well for his age.

He walks with a stick and it was not thought he had money or an Oyster Card with him.

It is believed at the time of his disappearance he was wearing a beige or cream jacket which is featured in the CCTV footage taken the day before he went missing.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 020 8284 7712 / 13 or 07770 825571. Alternatively call the police non-emergency line 101.

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