IT IS the not knowing that is eating away at Sandra Flintoft and her family.

Since her son, Craig Hetherington, disappeared after leaving Middlesbrough's Cornerhouse pub after a night out with friends, Mrs Flintoft has been left agonising over what may have happened to him.

The Guisborough family have not heard from Teesside University student Craig, 22, since he vanished on Saturday, February 22.

His disappearance is a complete mystery. He has not accessed his bank account, had no obvious problems at home or at university, and has never gone missing before.

"It's the not knowing that's the worst," said Mrs Flintoft.

"We feel as if life has stopped for us. In my heart of hearts, I have to hope that he's alive and he will come home - we all have to. Whatever else may have happened to him doesn't bear thinking about.

"We just want him home safely and for him to know that he's loved very much by us all."

Cleveland Police have interviewed dozens of people, scoured security camera footage and searched the riverbank, derelict buildings and made public appeals.

In addition, Craig's brother, Mark, has made an emotional public appeal for information at a Press conference, and the family has even taken to the streets handing out posters with pictures of the young student in a desperate bid to find any clue as to his whereabouts.

Craig's family is backing a campaign aimed at reuniting some of the 210,000 people who are reported missing in Britain every year with their loved ones.

The charity National Missing Persons Helpline has teamed up with coach company National Express, which will display the pictures of missing people at its coach stations across the country.

Denis Wormwell, chief executive of National Express, said: "Thousands of people use National Express coaches every day, so hopefully we can nudge someone's memory and encourage people to come forward with information in the future."

* Anyone with information about Craig Hetherington's whereabouts is asked to contact Cleveland Police on (01642) 302626. The National Missing Persons Helpline is 0500 700 700.

Missing facts

* The National Missing Persons Helpline helps to resolve 70 per cent of cases it works on.

* 45 per cent of children in care have run away overnight, compared to just 9.5 per cent of those living with their families.

* Males aged 24-30 are the most likely to disappear.

* Reasons for going missing vary widely, but can include family conflict, debt, illness or accident, abuse, stress, depression, amnesia, alcohol or drug abuse, abduction or just because someone feels like it.

* It should not be forgotten that people over 18 are at liberty to choose to go away and break off contact.