THE WIFE of a missing cab driver has said “the main thing” is he is found safe and well as the search continues.

Christopher Swindell, 50, left his home in Brockesby Walk, Bury St Edmunds, at about 5am on Monday in order to get a part for his car, but he has not returned and has not been in contact since.

Later in the afternoon his wife of nearly 18 years, Julia, received a call to say his mobile phone had been found by a walker on a footpath near to the A143 between Bury St Edmunds and Horringer.

Family members and police are becoming increasingly worried about the welfare of Mr Swindell, a father-of-one and step-father-of-two who works as a cab driver in Newmarket.

Mrs Swindell has appealed for him to get in contact as soon as possible, adding the main thing is he is safe and well.

“If he doesn’t want to come back or whatever then fair enough, but I just want to know he’s okay, and why he has done this.”

Mrs Swindell, 54, said to go missing was “out of character” for her husband.

“It’s not him to just up sticks and go. I think he had been a bit down, but nothing drastic,” she said.

She added: “Not knowing is the worst part.”

She said he left without bank cards, identification, clothing and his glasses.

“He hasn’t got anything on him. I don’t know where he’s going to go, and in this weather.”

She added: “It’s just like he walked out and decided ‘I’m gone’.”

She described her husband as a joker, friendly enough, but someone who tended to keep himself to himself.

“He didn’t go down the pub. He used to just go to work, come in, play on the computer. He was more a family man than anything.”

Yesterday police renewed their appeal to help trace Mr Swindell.

He is described as white, of stocky build, around 5ft 10ins and with dark shaven hair. He was wearing a black thigh length fleece style jacket, a black jumper with thin white horizontal stripes, dark jeans, a black beanie hat and dark blue trainers, possibly with Velcro fastenings.

Calls should be made to Suffolk Police on 101 immediately.