Holding a picture of her missing husband, King's Lynn GP Shona Lidgey still believes she will see him again as the first anniversary of his disappearance draws painfully close.

Highly-respected GP David Lidgey walked out of his family home last June leaving a note to say he had 'gone for a walk' and has not been seen or contacted his family since.

Now his wife is renewing her appeal for him to return to Norfolk and to their three children Ruth, 16, Arthur, 14, and Tom, nine.

She said: 'We haven't heard anything from him. There has been absolutely no contact at all.

'All of our birthdays have also gone now – I thought he might have at least sent the kids a card but they've had nothing.

'We really just want him to get in touch and let us know he is safe. I know he really loves the children and we still love him and we want him to come back so we can try to get to know him again.'

Mrs Lidgey's husband of 17 years had driven their three children to school on June 29 but did not return to their home in Hilgay, near Downham Market. He left his prized silver Volvo, wallet and mobile phone behind and the following morning Mrs Lidgey called the police.

There have been several reported sightings of Mr Lidgey, now aged 52, in Leicester, which is the city where he studied medicine. There have also been reported sightings in Lincolnshire and the West Country but his whereabouts remains a mystery. He also has links to Weymouth and Portsmouth.

Mrs Lidgey continued: 'Someone came forward to me recently and said three months before he left, they had given him a reference for a job in Australia.

'We then wondered if he had gone out there but we've since found out he hasn't had a visa approved or managed to get a new passport so perhaps he didn't get that job.

'I do believe he is still in England and I believe he is travelling round the places that he has lived in. As long as he is out there he could come back at any moment.'

Asked what her and her children will do to mark the anniversary, she replied: 'We will spend time together and think about him and talk about him and sort a photo album. I think it's important to mark the day.'

Mrs Lidgey, 45, said her husband had never settled in Norfolk, where they had lived since 2008.

'David wanted to come here,' she said. 'It was a way to get the children out of the city before secondary school age and find a bigger house, but it wasn't as he'd imagined.

'The children and I made new friends, but somehow he didn't. I know his mind went back to London a lot.'

The 45-year-old said her husband had suffered from depression for many years but felt unable to seek help for his depression, despite her repeated requests, although he was able to assist his own depressed patients.

'I know it's wrong what he has done but he was ill,' she continued. 'He tried to treat himself but he had been getting worse for the year leading up to him walking out.

'I think he felt that he wasn't valuable. We talked about it everyday but it was always the same thing and he kept going round in circles and he felt like he couldn't escape.

'I just had to try to help him by listening to him and reinforcing all the positive things.'

According to the Mental Health Foundation depression is more common in women than men. One in four women will require treatment for depression at some point in their lives compared to one in 10 men.

It is thought this is due to both social and biological factors and the fact men may have been under diagnosed because they present their GP with different symptoms.

Mental health charity MIND has also said that men manifest depression in different ways - for instance anger and violence - and are far less likely to admit there is a problem in the first place.

Mr Lidgey is described as white, 6ft 3in tall, and of slim build with brown/greying hair.

When last seen, he was wearing brown leather boots, dark chino/jean-type trousers and a fleece carrying the words 'Cotton Traders'.

Anyone with information can call the Missing People helpline 0500 700 700 or contact Norfolk police on 101.