South Yorkshire Police issue fresh appeal in Thomas Groome case

Thomas Groome was last seen in Doncaster in January 2010

Detectives have issued a fresh appeal for information about an Irish man who went missing in South Yorkshire four years ago.

Thomas Groome has not been seen since he left his son's house in Doncaster on New Year's Day 2010.

His family thought he had gone to Portugal but reported him missing when they could not contact him.

Five people were arrested in early 2013 on suspicion of his murder and given bail.

Mr Groome, who was 54 when he disappeared, is described as 5ft 8ins (1.7m) tall and of a slim build, with receding greying hair and a strong southern Irish accent.

He was last seen wearing a yellow T-shirt, blue and white chequered shirt and a light coloured, knitted cardigan.

Police are also appealing for information to find Mr Groome's car, a black, left-hand drive, Wolfsburg edition Volkswagen Golf car.

Det Insp Jade Brice said South Yorkshire Police had been working with the authorities in Portugal and the Republic of Ireland in a bid to find Mr Groome.

Police want to trace Mr Groome's black VW Golf

He said "extensive enquiries" had been made in Dublin, South Yorkshire and in Lagos, Portugal, in an attempt to establish his whereabouts.

"However, we still need help from the public on potential sightings of him on or since New Year's Day 2010 and in particular of the car that we know Thomas owned and drove," he said.

A 36-year-old man from Wheatley, Doncaster, and two men aged 24 and 57-years-old, from Bentley, were arrested and released on bail in March.

A 55-year-old woman from the Republic of Ireland and a 33-year-old woman, from Wheatley, were also arrested and released on bail.