A SCOTTISH father has called on Marlovians to help him find his missing son 16 years after his disappearance from the family home.

Derek Burns, 66, made the plea as he prepared to take on a leg of his 650-mile charity walk from Edinburgh to London in aid of the National Missing Persons Helpline (NMP).

Mr Burns, along with a group of fundraisers from Soroptomist International Thames Valley, was met in Higginson Park by mayor Cllr Roger Wilson at 10am where they set off on the Marlow to Windsor leg of the "Missing Miles" walk.

The group of walkers, which included former Dr Who, Colin Baker, a Free Press columnist, and TV personality Janet Street-Porter, hopes to raise £50,000 from donations.

Mr Burns is making the trek for the third time in memory of his son, also called Derek, who disappeared in March 1989, after travelling to Hemel Hempstead, possibly to visit his girlfriend.

Wearing a kilt, and holding a hiking stick, Mr Burns told the Free Press he still believed his son was alive.

He said: "I feel sure he's still out there somewhere. Hopefully somebody, somewhere will see his picture and phone the charity.

"Even if they don't want to pass on their names we would be able to see what they know."

Derek Jnr was 19 years old when he disappeared.

He left his home in West Calder, Scotland, telling his parents he was going to meet a friend for a drink.

But when he did not return it was discovered that he had travelled to London.

Police investigations have since failed to locate his whereabouts.

He would now be 36 years old and an artist's impression of his possible current appearance has been released.

Mr Burns said: "He was a friendly boy, he had friends. It was totally out of character.

"I think about him a lot while doing the walk."

Women's group Soroptimists presented Mr Burns with a £500 cheque for the Helpline before they set off.

They were due to finish the walk in Battersea today.

Donations to the walk can be made to NMP organisation online at www.missingpersons.org or by calling 020 8392 4592. If you recognise Mr Burns jnr call NMP on 0500 700 700