Mother's heartfelt plea to missing son

Lewis Penfold-Roche, 18, has been missing for more than a month

The heartbroken mother of a missing teenager has begged her son to come home, saying "there is nothing we can't talk about and sort out".

Lewis Penfold-Roche, 18, has not been seen since 28 January despite extensive searches and a huge community effort to find him.

Police resumed searches in Billingham on Thursday, drafting in marine units to cover the area near Charlton's Pond.

Donna Roche appealed for her son to make contact, adding: "Please baby, get in touch with someone, let everyone know you are safe."

In a statement, the mother added she had been concerned for weeks whether her son was warm enough, eating enough, or had been hurt.

"I've had to meet people to talk about the search for Lewis - not just any sort of search, a search for a dead body," she said.

"I hope no-one has to go through this, the realisation of searching for your son hoping he's alive but having to have in your head that anything could have happened.

"His brother is asking when he will be back and if he will see him again."

The teenager's mother, Donna, says her son is "loved by many"

Appealing to the public, Miss Roche added: "Please, if you know anything, or see anything, do the right thing, call 101 or 999, even if you have to do it anonymously.

"We need to know he's safe, he doesn't need to come home and he is not in any trouble at all."

In the weeks since the 18-year-old went missing, the Billingham community has worked together to share information and carry out regular searches.

Last weekend, voluntary underwater search and recovery dive team Beneath the Surface carried out water searches in a bid to find him.

CCTV footage captures the 18-year-old on the day he went missing

The teenager, who has a London accent, is 6ft (1.83m) with brown hair and was last seen in the Station Road area of Billingham.

CCTV footage shows him at the Esso garage at about 08:15 GMT on 28 January.

Det Insp Chris Pringle, who is leading the investigation, appealed to anyone with information to contact police, and urged the teenager to let officers know he is safe.

"There are lots of people who are very concerned for him,” he added.