TWO young children were today coming to terms with the loss of their father Richard Hill after his body was found in the New Forest.

Five year-old Nakita and her nine-year-old brother Richard last saw their dad when he dropped them at school on Monday morning.

Yesterday the pair comforted their mum Crystal as she made an emotional appeal through later editions of the Daily Echo for the 57-year-old to come home.

Young Nakita said: "I just want my dad to come home."

Police had launched a major search for the former engineer, who was registered disabled and used a crutch to walk, after he vanished on Monday morning.

The alarm was raised after he failed to turn up for a doctor's appointment.

In a message to her husband of nine years, Crystal, who should have been celebrating her 35th birthday today, had said: "I love you. Please come home."

Today Mrs Hill and her children were being comforted by family and friends at their Tangmere Road home after Mr Hill's body was found near a campsite in the New Forest yesterday afternoon.

Mr Hill was described as a loving father who adored his children and "a protector who helped everyone".

Officers found his body at National Forestry land near the Denny Wood campsite, Beaulieu, at 4.15pm. Although no formal identification has taken place, police say they are satisfied that the body is that of Mr Hill.

He had not been seen since dropping his children off at Sinclair School in Lordshill at 9am.

It was the second time Mr Hill, who used to be an engineer, had disappeared from the family home in the last few days. He was previously found at Beachy Head in East Sussex.

Police are not treating the death as suspicious and officers are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident.

The car Mr Hill was driving at the time of his disappearance has also been recovered. Southampton Coroner's office has been notified and an inquest is expected to be opened shortly.