Hartlepool family appeal to find missing Scott Fletcher

Mr Fletcher's family say it is a "nightmare" for all of them

A family are appealing for information on a man from Hartlepool who has been missing for more than seven months.

Scott Fletcher, 27, was last seen on 11 May at about 20:20 BST in the lay-by opposite the Jet garage on the A181 at Wheatley Hill, Durham.

His family say they have been "distraught" since his disappearance.

Det Ch Insp Jon Green, of Cleveland Police, said they "cannot rule out the possibility of him having come to some harm".

The search for Mr Fletcher has extended to the Durham, Cumbria and Liverpool areas, as it is believed he has connections there.

"I have seen first hand the turmoil Scott's family have suffered since he went missing and as Christmas draws closer, it is going to be even more distressing for them as his whereabouts remain unclear.

"I am certain that people locally can help to unlock the answers in relation to Scott's whereabouts and I would appeal to them to contact us, in confidence if necessary, and help end the suffering his family are going through," said Mr Green.

Julie Fletcher, Mr Fletcher's mother, said: "We have lived with this every minute of every day for the last eight months - we just want to know where Scott is.

"I would plead with anyone who may know something - anything - in relation to Scott, to contact the police and help to end this nightmare for all of us."