A shopping centre in Gloucester has launched a heartfelt appeal to reunite families with their missing relatives over Christmas.

The Come Home for Christmas campaign has been organised with the Missing People helpline – a charity which supports children and vulnerable adults who have disappeared.

Residents are being asked to drop their old mobile phones in at the Ask Me point at The Mall, Gloucester.

All money raised from recycling these phones will go directly to fund Missing People's work.

The charity is appealing for any information on three people in the county whose families are desperate to know they are well.

James Elam was last seen at his home in Stroud on May 1, 1994.

He was 25-years-old when he disappeared.

His family is anxious to hear from James, even if it is just to let them know that he is safe.

James can call the confidential service Message Home on Freefone 0800 700 740 where he can leave a message which the charity can forward to his loved ones for him.

James is 6ft 2in tall, of slim build with black curly hair and dark brown eyes.

Although he has not been heard from since going missing, it is thought he could be with new age travellers.

Former Gloucester librarian Angela Bradley was 34 when she was last seen in January 1995.

She left her white Citroen AX car with the keys in the ignition and her glasses, which she couldn't see well without, on the dashboard.

Angela had been living with her parents in Gloucester and her family are very concerned about her.

She was depressed and ill when she disappeared and they would like to know she is safe and well.

Angela is described as quietly spoken, and a very reserved, intelligent person who loves animals and wildlife. She is 5ft 5ins tall and slim with dark brown hair and brown eyes. She worked as a librarian in Gloucester.

Elizabeth Swann told her family she had accepted a job as a receptionist in Gloucester, before going missing early in 1974. She was 23. At the time she had been staying with her brother in Birmingham, and intended to hitch-hike to Gloucester. She has not been heard from since and her family is desperate to know she is safe.

At the time of her disappearance, Elizabeth was 5ft 7in, slim and had blue eyes and long blond hair which she wore in a ponytail.

Neil Draper, general manager of The Mall in Gloucester, urged everyone to dig out their old mobile phones.

He said: "Help Missing People provides invaluable support for those missing and their families at this vital time of the year.

"This festive season we expect to welcome over 30,000 more shoppers a week through our doors and if everyone brought in an old mobile phone we could make a huge difference for Missing People."

■ If you have a sighting or information about a missing person, please call Missing People confidentially on Freefone 0500 700 700 or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk

If you are a missing person ring the confidential Message Home service on Freefone 0800 700 740 or email on messagehome@missingpeople.org.uk.