Marc Jones has been missing since December 22 (Picture: Essex Police)

Police have launched an urgent appeal for a 44-year-old man who went missing in Essex while visiting family over Christmas.

Marc Jones, from Marlow in Buckinghamshire, was last seen in Hockley, Essex, around 9am on Saturday, December 23.

He is believed to have been visiting family in the Essex town along with his young son, when he went missing.

Mr Jones was wearing a jacket with a furry collar, brown jeans and a rust-coloured top, Essex Police said.

He was also wearing black trainers and has a cross tattoo on his wrist.

Following his disappearance, a Facebook group has been set up to help find Marc and has gathered more than 1,000 members since its creation.

The most recent update, which was shared on December 28, stated that ‘several possible sightings’ of Marc had been seen in Marlow since he went missing.

It read: ‘We need everyone out looking for Marc, with an open mind about his clothing potentially having changed.

‘In the latest possible sighting, he may have changed his clothes to a grey raincoat.

‘He was not at all receptive to being spoken to.

‘Anyone who knows Marc knows this would be incredibly out of character so regardless or whether you know him or not, please just immediately call 999 (quoting Missing Person Reference Number: 43230576683) and officers will hopefully be able to attend at speed because as they said, this has gone on for a long time now and we need to get him home.’

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Marc Jones, from Marlow in Buckinghamshire, was last seen in Hockley, Essex, around 9am on Saturday, December 23.