Dr David Lidgey has been missing since June 29.

The family of a Norfolk GP who disappeared seven months ago have been given fresh hope after the father-of-three was spotted in Lincolnshire.

Dr David Lidgey, 51, has not been seen since June 29 when he left the family home in Hilgay, near Downham Market, having written a note saying he had ‘gone for a walk’.

His wife Shona, a GP in King’s Lynn, and the couple’s three children made a renewed appeal for information in December, appearing in the national and local media.

The family was contacted by a witness 12 days ago who was convinced she had seen Dr Lidgey in Morrisons supermarket at Skegness.

Although a trip to the seaside town last Sunday proved fruitless, Mrs Lidgey feels the reported sighting could indicate her husband of 18 years is on his way home.

“This woman was really sure it was him,” she said. “I can’t raise the children’s hopes too much, but I do feel we are getting closer.

“Skegness was too big for us to cover on our own - we could have been walking on one street and he could have been on the next - but we put up lots of posters and spoke to people there.

“It’s very difficult because a lot of people want to help and many people look similar.

“We have to keep an open mind, but it’s given us hope that he could be heading back this way to Norfolk. There have been several sightings over the last week, but now we have to wait again and just see.”

Mrs Lidgey, 45, previously told a national newspaper that her husband had never really settled in Norfolk after the family moved from London in 2007.

“David wanted to come here,” she said. “It was a way to get the children out of the city before secondary school age and find a bigger house, but it wasn’t as he’d imagined.

“The children and I made new friends, but somehow he didn’t. I know his mind went back to London a lot,” she said.

Mr Lidgey drove the children to school on June 29 but did not come home. He left his prized silver Volvo, wallet and mobile phone behind and Mrs Lidgey called the police the next morning.

He is described as white, 6ft 3in tall, and of slim build with brown/greying hair. When last seen, he was wearing brown leather boots, dark chino/jean-type trousers and an RAF fleece with the Cotton Traders logo.

Anyone with information can call the Missing People helpline 0500 700 700 or contact Norfolk police on 101.