THE family of a Celtic fan who has been missing in Spain for almost 10 months have shared their heartache as they prepare to spend their first Christmas without him.

Gary Watson Shearer arrived in the resort of Puerto del Carmen on March 16, to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

The 53-year-old was then last seen in the early hours of the next morning, and he then failed to show up for his flight home a week later.

We previously reported in August that authorities were looking to speak to a mystery man who was last seen walking with the footy fan on March 17.

As it approaches almost 10 months since Gary's disappearance, his heartbroken sister Debbie Shearer has revealed it's been a "nightmare" for the family.

Glasgow Times:

"It's been a living nightmare," she said.

"It's Gary's birthday on December 21 - we're just lost and heartbroken.

"I can't even explain it - it's just a living nightmare. It's torture not having any answers or nothing.

"We can't even function from day to day, it's just Gary is constantly on our minds."

On top of this month being the Renfrew man's birthday, it is also the first Christmas the family will spend without him.

Debbie said the family are "dreading it".

Glasgow Times:

She said: "We're heartbroken and we're just dreading it but at the same time we know we need to do something to keep Gary, like the memory of him.

"So, we're having a closed gathering for close family on his birthday to celebrate Gary.

"That's all we can do just now but me, my sisters, and mum and dad are all going over in March on the anniversary of him being missing."

Glasgow Times:

Since last speaking to the Glasgow Times earlier this year following the CCTV appeal, Debbie revealed the family have had no updates on the investigation.

However, Gary's dad recently visited the island in December to meet with authorities.

Meanwhile, regarding the investigation, Debbie claims contact from the British Foreign Office hasn't been great.

She said: "They haven't contacted us - it's us that have to phone them on every occasion.

"They have never reached out to us just to give updates.

"See even if it was just to say, 'we've still no further forward', to just reassure us that they are doing something to help find Gary but we're having to contact them."

Glasgow Times:

While in terms of the Spanish authorities, Debbie feels more could be done as well.

"If Gary went missing here, there would have been a lot more done," she said.

Following his disappearance, Spanish cops carried out a search of the area in June.

However, we previously reported that this search was unsuccessful.

The football fan reportedly disappeared from outside Bar 67 in Puerto del Carmen, however, CCTV cameras show he was lying unconscious in a shop doorway next to the pub at around 1.30am on March 17.

Gary's loved ones have also flown out to the resort to carry out their own search.

He was last seen wearing a Celtic top, shorts, and white Nike trainers with green and yellow flashes.

The much-loved family man is described as being around 5ft 2inch tall, has short hair, and walks with a distinctive limp.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “We are supporting the family of a British National missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”

The Spanish Guardia Civil has been contacted for comment.