THE last thing a man who has been missing for six days said to his partner was: “I can’t wait to see you and the girls.”

Luke Winter, 38, from Kidlington, was last seen in the Wheatsheaf pub in High Street on Friday at 10.30pm.

His girlfriend Amy Woodhouse said she has not heard from him since and reported him missing on Monday The couple have one child together, four-year-old Eva, but Miss Woodhouse said Mr Winter was like a father to her other daughter Ellie, 11.

She said: “It’s totally out of character. I spoke to him at 4pm on Friday and the last thing he said to me was ‘I can’t wait to see you and the girls at my parents’ house.’ “You hear these things happen to other people but you don’t expect them to happen to you.”

The 34-year-old added: “He’s great with the kids, he’s such a nice man, and he would do anything for anyone.

“They really miss him. My daughter Ellie put a tweet out which got 1,600 retweets and she’s been texting me from school every day asking if I’ve heard anything. She’s been really brave.

“We have been into pubs and homeless shelters with his photo but no-one remembers seeing him at all.”

His mother Linda Winter, also from Kidlington, said his family and friends had been out searching in Oxford this week.

She said: “We are getting by each day because of the help and support we have had from his friends.

“He’s the most caring man, his friends call him the gentle giant, we are devastated and just want him home.

The 63-year-old added: “If anyone has any information, no matter how small, please call the police. We love him so much and just want him home.”

The family appealed to anyone who may have seen Mr Winter, who is 6ft 4ins, on Friday or since and urged them to call Miss Woodhouse on 07975 603354.

He was wearing a royal blue top with white Superdry writing on it.

Mr Winter works for Oxfordshire-based landscape gardening company RJH Landscapes.

Company founder Ryan Henstridge said he had heard nothing from his employee either.

He said he had joined family and friends in searching for Mr Winter around the city.

He said: “We have all been looking around Oxford for him. We have been everywhere with photos to see if anyone recognises him.”

Thames Valley Police said it was continuing to investigate the disappearance and appealed for anyone with information to call 101.