Family in plea for search for missing star as police make appeal for bridge walkers

● Singer vanished from hotel after sending tweet

Relatives of missing Frightened Rabbit singer Scott Hutchison have made an emotional plea for help in bringing him home safe.

Brothers Neil and Grant, together with mother and father Marion and Ron, spoke at the Dakota Hotel, South Queensferry, where the indie band frontman was last seen on Tuesday night.

Scott vanished after sending a tweet which read: “I’m away now. Thanks.”

In a heartfelt appeal, Neil, 38, said: “We love you very much as a family and hopefully you’ve seen the outpouring of emotion from your fans.”

“We miss you very much and we hope that you’re OK and if you’re not ok that you reach out and get in touch.”

Police are appealing for three people captured on CCTV near the Forth Road Bridge around the time of Scott’s disappearance to come forward.

Neil told how he last exchanged “normal” text messages with Scott at the weekend – discussing the “merits of Tennent’s lager”.

But fellow band member Grant told how concern grew after his brother failed to respond to important group emails on Monday.

Scott, 36, has gone missing before for days at a time, seeking solitude away from the public eye.

An instantly recognisable figure in his adopted home city of Glasgow, Scott’s onstage

0 Chief Inspector Alan Carson holds a press conference with, from left, Scott Hutchison’s brothers Neil and Grant and the Frightened Rabbit singer’s parents Marian and Ron persona belies a shy nature who “struggles” with fame.

“Even being in the same band as him, I’m not the person who bares their soul as he does lyrically,” said Grant, 33.

“I know that’s something he finds difficult – not being able to find space and isolation that from time to time he needs.”

“This time it feel far more serious,” added an emotional Grant. “On Tuesday night I got a phone call from the last person to speak to him and said he was very distressed.”

That, coupled with Scott’s last tweet shortly before 11.10pm on Tuesday, set alarm bells ringing.

Grant told how he raced to the Dakota with his fiancée, arriving even before police in the hope of finding his brother – but there was no sign of him

“He wasn’t happy,” said Grant. “He didn’t want anyone to know where he was. He didn’t want anyone to contact him. He hasn’t done that before.”

Scott has stayed in hotels in the area before, though not the Dakota, and has an affinity with Fife, having written some of Frightened Rabbit’s songs there.

The brothers told how he has battled depression for years and that it “comes and goes” with no particular trigger.

“Scott’s a private guy and he’s quite comfortable on his own,” said Neil.

“Even as a child he was quite happy spending time by himself.

“Being alone and getting some space is a remedy he’s used in the past.”

Frightened Rabbit thanked fans for the outpouring of sup- port following Scott’s disappearance.

“Your support so far has been incredible and all we ask is you keep him in your thoughts, keep an eye out and keep sharing his picture online,” read a statement from the band.

“Thanks for everything. Your kindness and positivity is keeping us going.”