DETECTIVES trying to solve the murder of a man who disappeared without a trace a year ago have issued a fresh appeal to find him.

Police are convinced Sunderland grandfather Robert Hutchinson was murdered, even though his body has never been found.

The 57-year-old was last seen leaving his home in Corporation Road in the Hendon area of the city at 6.20pm on Monday, June 23, last year.

He has not been seen since and his family are now desperate for answers as to what happened to him.

Mr Hutchinson left home in his car, a blue Nissan Micra. The vehicle was found abandoned at the end of Stewart Street, just off the busy Chester Road, the following month.

Police say extensive enquiries were carried out to locate the missing which led officers to believe he had come to harm and a murder investigation was launched.

Today (Tuesday, June 23) police will mark the anniversary of his disappearance by returning to Hendon and the Stewart Street and Chester Road area to appeal for fresh information about the murder.

Detective Chief Inspector Lisa Theaker, who is leading the investigation, said: "It's now a year since Robert was last seen and both us and his family need answers to what happened to him.

"There will be people within the community who will have information about his murder and information that can assist with our enquiry and we need them to come forward and speak to us”.

She added: "I want people to think back to this time last year and think about what they were doing and whether they saw anything that may help.

"Robert's car was found at the end of Stewart Street near to Chester Road, it had been left sometime overnight between Monday, June 23 and Tuesday, June 24.

"Chester Road is a busy road if anyone was in the area then again I'd ask them to get in contact.

"The past year has been incredibly difficult for Robert's family and friends, not least as they still do not have the answers they need as to what happened to him."

Two men arrested a month after Mr Hutchinson’s disappearance were released on police bail.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to ring Northumbria Police on 101 ext 69191 or Crimestoppers, which has offered a £3,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of those responsible, on 0800 555111.