TOMORROW marks six years since the disappearance of a Hartlepool man.

Father of one, Scott Fletcher, who was 31 when he went missing, was last seen on May 11, 2011 at around 8.20pm near to a garage on the A181 at Wheatley Hill in Durham.

The Northern Echo:

SEARCH: A layby on the A181 near Wheatley Hill, where police have been searching for missing Hartlepool man, Scott Fletcher. Picture: TOM BANKS

In December 2015, detectives announced that the disappearance was being treated as a murder inquiry despite a body not having been found.

Seven men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder but were later released without charge.

Detective Inspector Jim Allen said: “This case is very much active and we have several lines of enquiry which we can’t go into the specific detail of, for operational reasons.

"We are determined to resolve this case and bring Scott home to his family.

“Scott’s mum Julie is living every mother’s worst nightmare and wants to know what happened to her son.

"We are continuing our investigation and I’m certain there are a number of people who know exactly what happened to Scott. I would urge them to come forward and end the continued suffering for Scott’s family.”

Julie Fletcher has campaigned for information about her son’s whereabouts, and six years on, says the toll of the unknown has weighed heavy on her and the Fletcher family.

She said: “There’s not a minute that goes by that I don’t think about my son, it's hell on earth not knowing what has happened to him.

"To think that there are people who have information that won’t come forward to ease this pain is absolutely heartbreaking.”