Grandson's appeal to find pensioners

Roy and Alice Houghton were on a six-week trip

The grandson of an elderly couple missing in the south of France has appealed for help in finding them.

Roy and Alice Houghton, from Bedfordshire, and Alice's brother Walter Sheppard, from Nottingham, set off on a six-week holiday on 30 April.

Their family last heard from them on 4 May and they are extremely worried about their safety.

Mr and Mrs Houghton's grandson, Scott, said it was "very out of character" for them to lose touch.

If it was my parents, I'd be worried

DI Peter O'Rourke

French police have established the pensioners stayed in a hotel in Perpignan on Saturday and Sunday - just a few miles from the villa where they were due to stay.

Bedfordshire Police have also revealed that a debit card belonging to Mr Houghton was used on Monday to pay their hotel bill.

The family say they do not suspect foul play has been involved in their disappearance.

Scott Houghton said: "Knowing my Nan, she's seen the villa and not liked it and they're probably sitting in a vineyard in northern Spain drinking wine, not knowing what's happening at home."

Coastal town

However Detective Inspector Peter O'Rourke, of Bedfordshire Police, said they were liaising with French police to try to find the pensioners as quickly as possible.

"If it was my parents, I'd be worried," he added.

The three, aged between 77 and 80, were due to stay in the small French coastal town of Collioure, near the Spanish border on the Mediterranean.

They took the ferry across to France and then drove down to the coast in the Houghton's car.

Mr Houghton phoned his son and the apartment owner from Perpignan, an hour from Collioure, to say they would be arriving in about 60 minutes.

It is not like them to get lost - Dad is very organised

Pete Houghton

However, they did not reach their final destination and the alarm was raised by the owner of the apartment.

Police in France have confirmed there have been no reports of any accident involving the trio.

They have not traced Mr Houghton's Rover car with the registration number N240 GVW.

The couple's son Pete said his parents are frail and all three are on medication.

"It is not like them to get lost. Dad is very organised. He has a background in the military and the fire brigade. He is very reliable and trustworthy.

"They had all gone to the south of France last year and had been there in the past on other occasions. It is not as if they did not know what they were doing."

Earlier reports that three three soldiers had spotted the missing pensioners have been discounted by police.