Missing Royal Marine’s wife in homecoming plea

• Sarah Hebden issues plea to missing husband to return home

• Ralph Hebden was last seen in Morrisons supermarket in Arbroath at 8.30am on Monday

Sarah Hebden, who is expecting her first child within the new two weeks, issued her poignant appeal as Tayside Police continued their three day search for her husband, Ralph Hebden, 32, who has been missing from his home in Arbroath since 8am on Monday morning.

He vanished after setting out to go for a run near the steep cliffs on the outskirts of the Angus town which is home to the 45 Commando base at RM Condor.

In a statement, released by Tayside Police, a worried Mrs Hebden said: “Ralph, as time goes by we are all extremely worried about you and concerned for your safety. Our baby is due in a couple of weeks and we need you home with us both. Your family and friends love you very much. Please come home or contact any of us to let us know you are safe.”

Marine Hebden and his wife celebrated their first wedding anniversary last month. He is believed to have returned to the Condor base from a three-month-tour of duty at Christmas.

A Tayside Police spokeswoman said: “Ralph was last seen at Morrisons supermarket in Arbroath at about 8.30am on Monday morning. Extensive searches of the coastal area have already been carried out, and police are following all available lines of enquiry to trace him.

“Large numbers of leaflets were distributed in the town yesterday by police, and officers will be in the local area today handing out further leaflets, reviewing CCTV and continuing to appeal for local businesses and residents in Arbroath to come forward with any information that may help to trace him.”

She said: “Police are also keen to establish the identity of a man who appeared to match the missing person’s description, and was seen by a runner at Arbroath cliff’s at around 9am on Monday morning. Tayside Police would appeal to this person, who matched the description, to come forward, particularly if they remember being greeted by a border terrier dog.”

The spokeswoman added: “Police are not discounting that Ralph, originally from Liverpool, may have travelled to the Merseyside area where he has friends and family, and are working closely with Merseyside Police who are assisting with enquiries.”

Marine Hebden is described as 6ft 4 inches tall, muscular build, with short cropped fair hair. When he was last seen he was wearing black trainers, dark blue or black jogging bottoms, blue fleece and had a blue rain jacket in his possession.