THE family of charity founder Robin Garton, who is missing in the Highlands of Scotland, are praying he will be found as fears grow for his safety.

Mr Garton, 69, of Roundway House, near Devizes, has not been seen since Friday but the alarm was not raised until Monday, when he failed to meet up with friends in the Kinlochewe area on Sunday.

The experienced hillwalker was believed to have been hiking in the Glencoe area but searches by Glencoe and RAF mountain rescue teams and a coastguard helicopter have failed to find him.

Today police in Scotland said Mr Garton’s black Volkswagen Passat estate had been found in a car park off the A82 by Loch Achtriochtan.

It is believed he may have had made plans to walk in the Coire Nam Beith or Bidean Nam Bian areas.

Yesterday police were co-ordinating searches in the Aonach Eagach Ridge, Bidean nam Bian, Stob Coire nam Beith and Stob Coire nan Lochan areas of Glencoe with assistance from Glencoe MRT, Lochaber MRT, Oban MRT, RAF MRT, SARDA Scotland and HM Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.

A spokesman said: “With the last sighting of Mr Garton being Friday morning, concern is now growing for his welfare. Anyone who has seen Mr Garton or his vehicle is urged to contact Police on 101.”

His wife Jessica-Lee, daughter Francesca and son Will have stayed close to the phone hoping to receive good news.

Francesca Garton said: "We have heard nothing from him since Friday. There is still no news from the police. We are just praying for him. He is a very experienced walker."

Mr Garton had been staying near Buachaille Etive Mor in Glencoe. Police said he checked out of his accommodation at about 8am on Friday.

He is described as 6ft 2ins tall, of slim to medium build, with fair hair which is slightly balding. Mr Garton occasionally wears glasses.

Mr Garton, who completed a BSc in Geography aged 61, set up the charity the Glacier Trust to help communities in Nepal deal with the effects of climate change.

Writing on the University of Southampton website he said: "After a 40 year career as a specialist art dealer, I became hooked on glaciology. This developed into a concern as to how communities living at altitude might adapt to hazards posed by climate change."

In 2000 the Gazette reported on how he climbed three mountains in less than a day to raise £12,000 for a new school in Bangladesh. His Three Peaks Challenge also raised $5,500 for a homeless charity, which his friend helps to run in New York.

At the time he said of his climb: "The views were wonderful and even when it became dark the atmosphere was something else."

Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen a man matching Mr Garton's appearance to contact Police Scotland on 101.