In a dramatic new development that has sent fresh waves of panic through a desperate British family, police in Spain have located the white van belonging to missing 70-year-old Paul Daniel Strange – but in a spot no one expected. The retired builder and locksmith from Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, who vanished without a trace on the very last day of his holiday in the sun-drenched coastal town of Palomares, Almería, was supposed to be cruising north in that very vehicle towards the ferry home. Instead, his faithful ride has turned up abandoned in circumstances that only thicken the already baffling mystery surrounding his disappearance.

The discovery has left Paul’s loved ones reeling. Just days ago they were pleading for any sign of the devoted family man who always kept in regular contact during his long drives back from Spain. Now, with the van found in an unexpected location, fears are mounting that something sinister may have befallen the healthy, happy grandfather who had zero reason to walk away from everything he held dear.

Paul Daniel Strange had been enjoying a relaxed break at a friend’s apartment in Palomares, the peaceful fishing village nestled on the rugged Almería coast. He arrived on Good Friday, soaking up the Mediterranean vibes, fresh seafood and laid-back atmosphere that had drawn him back to the region time and time again. Neighbours recalled seeing the 70-year-old step out of the property on that fateful Thursday morning – the exact day he was due to load up and begin the epic journey home to his wife Diane and their three children in Essex.

But when a concerned friend let himself into the apartment later that day, the scene inside was nothing short of eerie. A half-drunk glass of orange juice sat on the table next to a packet of biscuits. Paul’s laptop, some clothes, his glasses and a black top were left scattered around, as if he had simply popped out for a quick errand and would return any moment. The door wasn’t even properly locked. Yet the man himself – along with a small bag containing his passport and money – had vanished into thin air.

His phone, which he religiously kept charged for those reassuring check-in calls to Diane every few hours on the road, went silent. The last recorded signal pinged roughly 12 kilometres from Almería city before contact was lost completely. Family members immediately raised the alarm. Paul’s son, also named Paul, described the situation as “extremely worrying” and completely out of character for his dad, a proud east Londoner with a distinctive cockney accent and a noticeable birthmark on his left temple.

“We’ve already contacted police in Essex who have been in touch with Interpol and Spanish authorities,” the son said in an emotional appeal. “We just want him to get in touch with us if he sees this. It’s extremely unlike Dad not to stay in touch. He’s a healthy, happy bloke with no reason to voluntarily disappear.”

The silver Sprinter van – around six or seven years old, UK-plated with registration YE19 FAU, and proudly sporting a large picture of a carp fish on the back – was meant to be Paul’s trusty companion for the long haul north through Spain and France to Calais. The fishing decal wasn’t just decoration; Paul was a keen angler who loved sharing photos of his catches. The family had hoped the distinctive vehicle would make him easy to spot on the busy holiday routes.

Now, in a stunning breakthrough that has injected both hope and fresh dread into the investigation, Spanish police have found the van. But its discovery in an unexpected location has only deepened the enigma. Far from being parked neatly at a service station, ferry terminal or even abandoned on a quiet roadside near Palomares, the vehicle turned up somewhere that raises more questions than it answers. Authorities are tight-lipped on the exact spot for operational reasons, but insiders suggest it was not along the obvious route home – fuelling speculation of a sudden detour, a possible medical episode, an accident in the remote hilly terrain, or something far more troubling.

The white van (often described interchangeably as silver in varying light) now sits as a silent witness in police custody. Forensic teams are combing every inch for clues: fingerprints, personal items, signs of struggle, or anything that might explain why Paul would leave his belongings behind yet take the van – only for it to end up in such an improbable place. Was he forced to drive somewhere against his will? Did he suffer a health scare and pull over in a panic? Or did he encounter someone on those lonely coastal roads who saw an opportunity?

Palomares itself carries a haunting legacy that locals still whisper about. In 1966, a mid-air collision involving a US B-52 bomber scattered hydrogen bombs across the area and into the sea – one of the Cold War’s most alarming nuclear incidents. While the land was eventually cleaned, the remote, windswept landscapes around Almería remain dotted with isolated tracks, steep drops and quiet spots where a tourist could easily run into trouble. The region attracts thousands of British holidaymakers every year, drawn by the year-round sunshine and affordable living, but its rugged beauty can turn treacherous in an instant.

Back in Leigh-on-Sea, the Strange family is living through every parent and spouse’s worst nightmare. Diane waits anxiously by the phone, hoping against hope for the familiar ring of her husband’s voice. Grandchildren ask when Grandpa is coming home with stories from Spain. Neighbours who knew Paul as the reliable locksmith who could fix anything and the life-and-soul character with his quick London wit are stunned into silence. “This is obviously completely out-of-character and very worrying,” his son repeated, his voice heavy with exhaustion and fear.

Paul’s son and son-in-law have already flown out to Spain, racing from Alicante straight to Palomares to assist in the search and pore over any details the local authorities might have overlooked. Essex Police are coordinating closely with Spanish counterparts and Interpol, treating the case with the urgency it deserves. Every CCTV camera between Palomares and Almería, every hospital admission record, every reported sighting of a man matching Paul’s description – white hair, London accent, birthmark on the left temple – is being meticulously checked.

The discovery of the van has intensified the operation. Spanish Civil Guard and local police are now expanding their search radius, deploying drones over difficult terrain, checking remote beaches and inland paths, and appealing for witnesses who may have seen the distinctive carp-fish van in the hours or days after Paul’s disappearance. Anyone who spotted the vehicle in an unusual spot, or noticed a 70-year-old Brit acting out of sorts, is urged to come forward immediately – no detail is too small.

As the investigation enters this critical new phase, the family clings to fragile hope while steeling themselves for any outcome. Paul was no reckless adventurer chasing thrills in his later years; he was a devoted husband, proud father and grandfather who cherished his routine check-ins and the comfort of home. The fact that he left behind everyday items like his laptop and glasses while apparently driving off in the van only adds to the torment of not knowing.

This case is shining a harsh spotlight on the vulnerabilities faced by older British tourists in Spain. Thousands make the annual pilgrimage south in their motorhomes and campervans, seeking sunshine and freedom. Yet when things go wrong on foreign roads – whether through accident, illness, crime or simple misadventure – the distance and language barriers can turn a bad situation into a living hell for families back home.

For now, the Strange family’s message remains raw and urgent: “We just want Dad home safe.” In the shadow of Almería’s dramatic hills, where the sea sparkles under endless blue skies and the ghosts of past tragedies linger, a frantic hunt continues. The white van has been found – but the man who drove it is still missing. Every passing hour without news tightens the knot of anxiety gripping those who love him.

Police are scouring the area around the van’s discovery site for any trace of Paul. Hospitals, hostels, even ferry records are being double-checked. Social media appeals featuring Paul’s photo and details of the van are spreading rapidly, with well-wishers across the UK and Spain offering prayers and tips.

The clock is ticking louder than ever. A pensioner who set off for what should have been a straightforward drive home has instead become the centre of an international missing-person drama. As investigators piece together the puzzle of that unexpectedly located van, one question burns above all others: Where is Paul Daniel Strange?

The family refuses to give up. In living rooms across Essex and in the sun-baked streets of Palomares, the same plea echoes: Come home, Paul. Your orange juice is waiting. Your loved ones are waiting. The mystery of the white van may have taken a shocking turn, but the search for the man behind the wheel burns brighter than the Spanish sun itself.