A POSTAL worker from York has gone missing, prompting an urgent police appeal.

Steven Gaffney, 39, was last seen by his friends at the Tiger pub, in Haxby, at about 2.30pm on Monday. The last time he made contact with anyone was in the early hours of Tuesday.

He was reported missing by his family on Tuesday evening, after he failed to turn up for work at the Royal Mail sorting office, in Leeman Road.

Mr Gaffney, from Acomb, is described as white, about 5ft 7ins tall, of slim build and with short brown hair which is cropped but spiked up in the middle. He has a brown beard and wears glasses.

It is thought he may be wearing blue jeans, a grey zip-up hooded top and a T-shirt bearing the slogan “Anyone but England for South Africa 2010”.

PC Sam Bolland, of York Police, said: “Mr Gaffney’s family and friends are understandably worried about him as it is unusual for him not to have been in contact and he doesn’t have his mobile phone with him.

“We are keen to trace Mr Gaffney as soon as possible and would like to hear from anyone who has seen him or knows where he is. If Mr Gaffney sees this appeal himself I would urge him to get in touch immediately and let us know that he is safe.”

Mr Gaffney is known to have links to Leeds and the Edinburgh and St Andrews areas of Scotland. Anyone with information is urged to contact PC Bolland, on 0845 6060247.