POLICE are appealing for help to trace a man who walked out of hospital eight days ago and hasn’t been seen since.

Nicholas Hughes, aged 26, from Coleford, told staff at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester that he was going out to smoke a cigarette on Sunday, December 1, but didn’t return.

A Gloucestershire Police spokesperson said: “While Nicholas wasn’t in a serious condition, officers want to know he is safe.

“He is described as white, 5ft 8ins tall and with brown hair.”

Anyone who knows where he is should call 101 and quote incident 424 of 1 December.