THE parents of a partygoer who disappeared on a night out have spoken of their fears for his safety as the freezing weather continues.

Duncan Gibbon, 21, from Swainby, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, has not been seen since Saturday night when he went out in Newcastle to celebrate a friend’s 21st birthday.

Despite extensive searches by Northumbria Police, no trace of Mr Gibbon has been found.

His parents, Simon and Kate, and younger brother Jake, 19, are desperately hoping he will turn up safe and well.

Mrs Gibbon said last night: “He’s never gone missing before and he cares about how we feel, and I don’t think he would put us through this.

“We’re very concerned as he doesn’t know Newcastle outside of the city centre and the weather is freezing.”

Mr Gibbon, a former Stokesley School pupil, is a student at Edinburgh University.

He has in the past visited Tyneside, where his brother is a student at Newcastle University.

Mrs Gibbon said: “He is a smashing lad and we love him to bits. He’s a really fun-loving guy, very friendly and outgoing.

“He loved to go out with his mates, and on Saturday he was with friends that he went to Stokesley School with and has known for ten years.

“If Duncan hears this appeal then we want him to know that we absolutely understand if he feels he can’t contact us.

“We want to let him know we love him dearly and want him to come back safely.”

Mr Gibbon was last seen drinking with friends at about midnight in Fever Bar, in the city’s Akenside Hill. The friends left the bar in two groups, each thinking Mr Gibbon was with the other.

He was supposed to be heading back to a friend’s in Newcastle, before returning home on Sunday.

It was not until later on Sunday that his friends realised no one knew his whereabouts and called police.

Mrs Gibbon said: “We don’t really know what could have happened and we’re very frightened. We just want him to be safe.

“The police have done an incredible search and there have been large numbers of officers involved.”

Mr Gibbon is white, cleanshaven, of slim to medium build and 5ft 10in, with short, straight, brown hair, a fresh complexion and blue eyes.

He was wearing dark blue denim jeans and a dark bluegrey waist-length hooded jacket. He had a distinctive standard-size sand-coloured fabric wallet with black edges, and an iPhone.

Northumbria Police temporary superintendent Geoff Logan said: “Mr Gibbon has not gone missing before and this is very out of character.

“We are concerned for his welfare due to the length of time he has been missing and the cold weather.

“It’s imperative that anyone who saw him on Saturday, or has seen him since, contacts us as soon as possible so we can piece together his movements and try to find him as soon as possible.”

Police are also asking that Mr Gibbon contact them if he is able to let them know where he is.

Anyone with information is asked to call Northumbria Police on 0345-604-3043, extension 69191.