The niece of a man who disappeared from a pub almost two weeks ago has made an emotional public plea for his safe return.

William Miller, 62, known as Billy was last seen on Main Street in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, at about 12.20am on Thursday, January 7.

Mr Miller, who stays in Balfron, Stirlingshire, also visits Milngavie, East Dunbartonshire, and uses public transport regularly, police said.

Last week, police officers in kayaks searched the River Leven in a bid to find him. The search for Mr Miller is continuing and his family has now made a public appeal for his safe return.

Officers working on the inquiry were joined by members of Mr Miller's family at a press conference on Monday morning at Dumbarton Police Office.

His sister, Eva McGregor, 61, her husband James, 62, and their daughter Eva, 30, Mr Miller's niece, were all in attendance.

A statement read by his niece, Ms McGregor, on behalf of the family, said: "We are here today to ask the public to help us find my uncle, Billy Miller.

"Uncle Billy has been missing from his home in Balfron since Wednesday January 6. We know that he got the bus to Milngavie, before getting the train to the Alexandria area.

"He was last spotted on CCTV walking passed the BP garage on Main Street Jamestown, that night at 12.20am shortly after leaving Fenton’s Bar.

"He is 62 and about 6ft tall and of medium build. He was wearing blue jeans, a blue and grey T-shirt, and a black hooded water proof jacket with a "Douglas Park" logo.

"He was carrying a small black rucksack with light blue panels and he wears a white-faced analogue watch with a brown leather strap. He does not drive and regularly uses public transport.

"He grew up in Alexandria and has friends in the area but has not made contact with anyone. He is a keen and active walker and enjoys country and forestry trails, so it is possible that he may have tried to walk home to Balfron.

"It is very out of character for him not to return home and for us not to have heard from him for this length of time. We are asking for anyone who has any information or thinks they have seen him to get in touch with the police by phoning 101.

"We also ask you to share the Argyll and West Dunbartonshire police Facebook posts to try to raise further awareness on social media. Please help us find my uncle Billy.

"Uncle Billy, if you see this, we need you to know that me, my mum and dad, nana, Logan, and Ben all love and miss you, we need to know that you are safe and we want you to come home."

Mr Miller was also spotted on CCTV at Tesco in Milngavie at around 1.15pm on the Wednesday he went missing.

Chief inspector Graeme MacDiarmid revealed officers have received two further unconfirmed sightings of Mr Miller in the Bonhill and Balloch areas of West Dunbartonshire.

The Balloch unconfirmed sighting was on the evening of January 8 in the Balloch Road area, while the Bonhill unconfirmed sighting was at around lunchtime on the Sunday, January 10, by a dog walker at the back of Bonhill, near to Knoblestone Wood.