But now, newsagent Derek Hartley is back in Cubbington to the relief of his family.

His 44-year-old wife Karen described her family's feelings when they were told Mr Hartley had been found alive near Coombe Abbey in Coventry on Sunday.

She said: "I was just massively relieved, we just wanted to get there and know that it was him because of all the pressure we have been through with not knowing if he was alive or dead.

"I am absolutely exhausted as it has been such a hard time."

Mr Hartley was found collapsed by passers-by who alerted police and the ambulance service.

He was then taken to University Hospital in Coventry where he was treated for dehydration and malnutrition before being discharged in the evening.

Mrs Hartley said: "Since he left six and a half weeks ago he had eaten very little and not drank much water, but during the last few days he was missing he knew he was becoming increasingly ill.

"But I am quite surprised he was discharged that night as I don't think he should've been.

"His condition was so poor, he had infections, he was very dehydrated and he couldn't keep water down.

"It was hard for all of us because he was kind of treated like a vagrant."

Mrs Hartley explained how her husband seemed to have lost four or five stone when he was found.

A packet of cereal bars, some biscuits, some berries and a small amount of water was all he had to survive on.

He had £25 which he took to Coventry to buy a small tent and a thin sleeping bag to camp in in the woods.

Mr Hartley has explained to his wife the reason for this uncharacteristic behaviour and described his movements after disappearing from his Paper Stop shop in Rugby Road on September 5.

Mrs Hartley said: "He remembers leaving the shop to go for his break
and was going to sit in the sunshine and read his book.

"He says when he was parked up in his car, he doesn't know what triggered it, but something told him he had to get away.

"Before he ended up in Coventry he had been walking around and slept under hedges a couple of nights."

During his time in the woods Mr Hartley remembers being in deep thought.
Mrs Hartley said: "He does rememeber quite a bit about it, he remembers being troubled mentally and he said in the last few days he knew he was becoming increasingly unwell and needed to be found."

Mr Hartley had walked to Coombe Abbey from Newbold Comyn, where his car was found abandoned on the night of his disappearance.

Police launched a search which stretched from Leamington to Draycote Water and the resulting media campaign led to a number of possible sightings, although Mrs Hartley believes the only one which could have been her husband was in Birgdingbury on September 6.

Now Mr Hartley is back with his his wife and stepsons Christopher, 22, and Sean, 19. Mrs Hartley said they just want to "support him and get him well again."

She also thanked the members of her family who kept the newsagents open during her husband's absence.

She added: "We are really greatful for the community support we have had and the police and media support in helping us to stay positive."