ANXIOUS grandchildren who fear the worst after losing contact with their nan are desperate to trace her.

Great-grandmother Valerie Hugget, of Clacton, last saw grandchildren Shannon,18, Kai, 17, Rhys, 15, and Callum Bentley, 14, in February 2015, at her son’s funeral.

The children’s dad, Glen Bentley, died that January, of pneumonia, aged 42, after multiple sclerosis caused his health to deteriorate.

His widow, Jolene, 39, has tried and failed to track down his mum, despite the family turning up at Mrs Hugget’s council house in Hadleigh Road, Clacton.

Christmas cards arrived for the children at their home in Southend but they are still unable to reach her.

She said: “Their nan played a huge part in their childhood. They would stay with her and spend holidays together at different caravan parks during the summer, but then unfortunately I lost their dad and there was a lot of grieving – it was hard.

“There were cards and phone calls exchanged during that time but after the first year the contact broke down.

“Health-wise Valerie struggled. She overcame breast cancer, but has a bad chest, so she wouldn’t drive anymore to Southend and gradually the contact just broke down.

“My daughter Shannon went onto Facebook and noticed old photos of their nan and comments like ‘I’ll be with you soon’ and things to suggest Valerie has passed away.”

Mrs Hugget is thought to be in her 70s and has always lived in Clacton. Her husband died in 2004 and now she lives with another son, who the grandchildren have been unable to get any information from.

“Shannon went to Clacton but their uncle wouldn’t tell her anything. All there is is their dad’s brother and sister, who lives out of Clacton, but she didn’t have any real contact with their dad when he was alive,” said Mrs Bentley.

“The children are so upset, they just want to know where she is and what’s happened.”

To contact Mrs Bentley with any information, email jolenebentley5@gmail.com.