MISSING man John Murphy has been 'spotted' twice in the same day.

Two people independently reported possibly seeing the father-of-five in Irvine, according to the his family.

Glasgow Times: John Murphy jnr, the son of missing man John Murphy outside London road police station, Glasgow. Photograph by Colin Mearns.

John's son, also named John, (above) said he was contacted by a woman who thought she saw his dad near the Kirkgate area of Irvine last Wednesday.

The first reported sighting was between 12.30pm and 2.30pm on November 25.

The man is thought to have looked as though he was sleeping rough and was in the company of another man, but matched the description of Mr Murphy.

After the initial sighting, another person also contacted John to say he thought he saw someone fitting the description of Mr Murphy in the Irvine area on the same day last week.

Glasgow Times:

John said yesterday: "The clothing he was wearing was combat work trousers and a pair of black work boots.

"[The woman who saw him] said he was with another guy and it looked like he was living on the streets.

"Someone else had messaged me saying they think they also saw my dad in Irvine on the same day.

"The person hasn't yet given me a clothing description but they've both reported this to the police today so they'll have to give statements now."

As previously reported, detectives from Greater Glasgow CID have now taken over the case and witnesses are being re-interviewed in an attempt to track him down.

John said: "It is always good if there is more than one person [who reports a sighting] but I'll not get my hopes up too much as there have been so many sightings that I'd rather wait until we have something concrete.

"It is a good thing though that two people have come forward within such a short space of time to report it.

"I'm hoping it will be acted on swiftly and we can have a look on any CCTV."

Glasgow Times: The family of missing man John Murphy pictured at a press conference at London road Police station. They are from left- sister Sharon McNab, wife Patricia and son John Murphy jnr. .. Photograph by Colin Mearns.

Since Mr Murphy's disappearance more than six months ago, people have reported possible sightings of him on buses in Bridgeton, in Bothwell and in Glasgow's city centre among others.

The devoted family man vanished on May 12, after leaving his Dennistoun home early to head to work at Easthall Park's Housing Co-operative.

CCTV images showed him going in to a local shop in Duke Street at about 7am, but after exiting the shop he disappears from the camera view and it is not known where he went.

His distraught family are still holding out hope for him to come home.

Email johnmurphymissing person@scotland.pnn.police.uk to report information or sightings.