The son of a missing murder victim has begged his family to continue their quest to bring his lifelong anguish to an end.

The 18-year-old told of his heartache after a search for his mother Laura May Al Shatanawi drew a blank.

Detectives received a fresh lead in the 12-year mystery last month and started a dig where they thought the body may have been buried.

But hopes of a breakthrough were dashed when a forensic archaeologist found the remains of a dog wrapped in a leather jacket.

Laura May's brother, Donald Vaughan, last night vowed to never rest until the truth about her disappearance and whereabouts is known.

Mr Vaughan, 45, from Hartlepool, said: "Although the dig has not unearthed my sister's body, I will continue to search.

"Someone out there knows something that could be vital to this case, and there could be others with information that they may believe is not important.

"I would plead with them to think carefully about the time of the summer of 1993 and tell the police anything they know however insignificant they think it might be.

"I spoke to my nephew after the search and asked him what he wanted. He said: "I want my mother's body next to gran's so she can be with her family again.

"He pleaded: 'Don, don't give up your search for my mum. I want you to continue until you find her body, so it can be laid to rest properly'."

Trainee travel agent Laura May, 36, disappeared after sitting an exam at Hartlepool College of Further Education in June 1993.

Her husband Hassan, now aged 58, did not report her missing for more than three weeks and spent that time carefully covering his tracks and disposing of the body.

The Jordanian-born doctor claimed Laura May could have taken a last-minute holiday and was not concerned when she had not been seen for weeks.

But Shatanawi, who was having an affair, was arrested and tiny specks of blood and strands of hair which matched Laura May's were found on the floor of a shed he kept on an allotment at Seaton Carew.

A jury at Newcastle Crown Court found Shatanawi guilty of murder in 1994 and he was jailed for life.

Police teams searched numerous sites at the time and started another last month following a tip-off that something could be buried near the dunes on the links of Seaton Carew golf course.

Detective Superintendent Mark Braithwaite, of Cleveland Police, said after the dig was called off: "All information will be acted on and we will always continue to search for the remains of Laura May."